At Any Cost: Metz 1

RU L E S OF PLAY Game D esign by Hermann Luttmann

GMT Games, LLC • P.O. Box 1308, Hanford,

© 2017 CA 93232-1308
GMT Games, LLC • www.GMTGames.com
2 At Any Cost: Metz
“It will cost what it will!”
—Adalbert von Bredow, immediately before he led the famous
“Deathride” of the Prussian 12th Cavalry Brigade at Mars-La-Tour.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
On the morning of August 16th, 1870 at the Gravelotte crossroads
outside the fortress of Metz, Napoleon III (Emperor of the French
Second Empire) turned over command of the Army of the Rhine
to a reluctant Marshal Francois Achille Bazaine. The Army of
the Rhine, the last intact field army and already the last hope for
France during the two-week old Franco-Prussian War, was gathered
around the protection of the Metz fortress complex. The Prussian
First and Second Armies were sweeping forward, hot on the heels
of the retiring French. But poor weather and a disorganized cavalry
screen allowed the French army to break contact with the pursuing
Prussians. Helmuth von Moltke, Chief of the Prussian General
Staff, instructed his armies to wheel south of the fortress, cross the
Moselle River and attempt to catch the French in the flank. The only
problem with this plan was—where were the French? The resulting
two-day campaign produced some of the more remarkable battles
in military history—the Battles of Mars-La-Tour and Gravelotte-St.
Privat. These two battles produced over 60,000 casualties, with
each army suffering equally.
At Any Cost: Metz 1870 is a game simulating the situation west of
the Metz fortress during those few days of August 1870. The game
is designed to be a playable, two-player brigade-scale game that
allows players to experience the unique tactical warfare matchups
that characterized fighting during the Franco-Prussian War. Will
YOU as the Prussian player be able to withstand an early severe
numerical disadvantage and use the audacity of the Prussian soldier
and artilleryman to win the day? Can YOU as the French player
overcome the lethargic and uninspired command structure of the
Army of the Rhine and allow your tough and well-equipped infantry
to fight unhindered?
At Any Cost: Metz 1870 features the Blind Swords chit-pull system
that emphasizes the three “FOW’s” of military conflict: fog-of-war,
friction-of-war and fortunes-of-war. Unlike more traditional chit-
pull mechanisms, the Blind Swords system ensures that no combat
units can be counted on, and conversely, none can be counted out.
SAMPLE UNITS
Front Back
Formation color Unit I.D.
Tactical Cohesion Stripe = Battle-
Rating (TCR) worn status
Strength Movement
Points Allowance
Front Back
Commander’s Name
Posture Movement
Allowance
Command Rating
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2.0 GAME SCALE AND MAP
2.1 Scale
The game map depicts the area over which this campaign was
fought, stretching from the outskirts of Metz on the eastern board
edge to the Yron River valley on the western edge. Each map hex is
approximately 500 yards across. Regular Infantry and Cavalry units
represent Brigades. Infantry Detachments (3.4) are groups of bat-
talions or regiments operating independently of their parent units.
Artillery units represent division and corps organizational groupings
of batteries and Mitrailleuse units (4.3) are single batteries. Each
HQ unit (3.5) represents the corps or division commander, his staff
and the associated logistical train. One Strength Point (3.1.3) equals
about 600 infantry, 450 cavalry, 3 heavy cannon (12 lb.), 4 light
cannon (4 and 6 lb.) and 1.5 Mitrailleuse machineguns . One regular
Game Turn represents approximately one hour of real time, while
Evening and Deep Night Game Turns represent three hours each.
2.2 Map Details
There are numerous terrain features on the map that can have
movement and/or combat effects. Consult the Terrain Effects Chart
for details of these effects. Some special terrain features require
further explanation, as follows:
2.2.1 Elevations: There are four terrain
elevation levels depicted on the map
(from lowest to highest): Flat, Low,
Raised and High. Flat terrain is light tan,
Low is beige, Raised is greenish brown,
and High is dark brown. Slopes are those hexsides that exist be-
tween two hexes with a one-level elevation difference; Steep Slopes
are those hexsides (depicted with a darker color) between two
hexes with an elevation difference of two levels or more. Up Slope
is the movement through a Slope or Steep Slope hexside from the
lower hex to the higher hex. Slope and Steep Slope hexsides are
important for Movement, Line of Sight and Combat purposes.
2.2.2 Roads: Roads are the dominant
terrain feature for movement purposes
when they appear in a hex. Units that
move from one hex into an adjacent hex
that is directly connected by the same
Road graphic are considered to be using that road and thus may
Artillery
Horse Artillery
Strength Points
TCR
Movement Allowance
Strength Points Mitrailleuse indicator
Weight
Class
Indicator
Light Medium Heavy
Cavalry Cavalry Cavalry
 At Any Cost: Metz
benefit from the Road movement rates. There are two types of Road
hexes—Minor Roads (tan-colored) and Major Roads (dark-gray
colored). Minor Road hexes cost all moving units only 1 Movement
Point, regardless of other terrain in the hexes or across a hexside and
as long as no other unit is already in that Road hex. Major Roads
function the same way as Minor Roads, but also allow the use of the
Road March Column (11.9) ability to qualified units moving only
from one Major Road hex to a connected Major Road hex.
2.2.3 Fortresses: The two Metz-complex
fortresses, Fort St. Quentin and Fort
Plappeville, require special rules consid-
erations. These two Fortress hexes allow
only one unit and only a French unit may
enter them. Fortress hexes, and any units in them, cannot be fired
upon or assaulted by Prussian units. In addition, Prussian units that
come within 2 hexes or less of a Fortress hex and within normal
LOS (8.1.2) can be fired at with its inherent 10 SPs of French ar-
tillery fire during the Fire Combat Step of the French Imperial
Guard Corps Activation (8.9).
2.3 Rounding Convention
If there are any game calculations to be made regarding SP values,
Movement Allowances, etc., maintain all fractions throughout the
entire calculation and then drop any remaining fraction at the end.
Exception: a net SP value of “.51” to .99” is rounded down to
“.50” (and thus qualifies as a “C” SP value [3.1.3]). Net SP values
of “.49” and lower are treated as “0” SPs.
EXAMPLE: If a unit’s SP value of 7 has to be halved twice for
various game conditions, it is halved the first time to 3.5 and the
second time to 1.75. The final adjusted SP value therefore is 1.
3.0 GAME COMPONENTS
3.1 Combat Units
Combat units represent the fighting troops of each side and do not
include HQs. The front side of each counter shows the unit at Fresh
(FR) status and the reverse side shows the unit after it has taken
significant combat losses and indicates its Battleworn (BW) status.
The BW side of a unit is displayed with a white stripe through the
center to distinguish it from the FR side. Note that Infantry De-
tachments (3.4) have two BW sides. Each counter displays game
information as follows.
3.1.1 Unit Identification: In the top bar of each counter, infantry
and cavalry units are identified by Brigade, or Division/Corps, or
Name/Division/Corps. Each corps, independent cavalry division or
artillery reserve is termed a formation and has a distinctively-col-
ored background to its Identification information. When an HQ
activates, all units with the identical color to the HQ are activated
along with it. Infantry Detachments do not have a Brigade Number
or Division Name—instead, each unit is individually lettered and
has “Detach” in the Division slot (17.0).
Note: A unit’s Divisional affiliation is important for use with the
CIC Chits and some Event Chit actions.
3.1.2 Tactical Cohesion Rating: Displayed in a red box with yel-
low font color is the unit’s Tactical Cohesion Rating (TCR). This
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3
is a measure of the unit’s training, morale and experience. The
higher the TCR of a unit, the more dependable and effective it is in
combat. The printed TCR is modified by the following conditions
(and this modifier is listed on the associated marker) and applies
in all cases where the modified TCR needs to be tested:
a. Unit is Shaken = reduce testing unit’s TCR by one (–1)
b. Unit is Disrupted = reduce testing unit’s TCR by two (–2)
c. Unit in a Hasty Works hex = increase testing unit’s TCR by one
(+1)
d. Unit in an Entrenchments hex = increase testing unit’s TCR by
two (+2).
3.1.3 Strength Points: A unit’s Strength Point value (SP) is the
number or letter on the bottom left of the counter. This represents
the unit’s relative size and is used in Fire and Assault Combat
resolution. A letter value of “C” represents “cadre strength” and is
the equivalent of 1/2 SP. A unit’s effective SP can be modified by
certain game conditions, such as Fire Combat Range, Morale Hits,
etc. A unit’s initial SP strength always includes adjustment for any
applied Morale Hit marker as follows:
a. Shaken marker = –1 SP
b. Disrupted marker = –2 SP
After the initial SP is determined for a unit, then multiply or divide
the SP for other causes. A unit whose printed SP value has been
modified to “0” or less cannot conduct Fire Combat or attack in
Assault Combat (note that this is not the same as combat column
shift effects, which are explained later).
3.1.3.1 Weight Class: Cavalry units have an additional Weight
Class indicator with their SP entry. This is represented by a colored
circle around the SP, with a red circle for Heavy cavalry, a blue
circle for Medium cavalry and a green circle for Light cavalry.
The weight class category reflects the unit’s armament, protection,
equipment and relative size of its horses and is referenced when
making a Cavalry Charge (11.6).
3.1.3.2 Mitrailleuse units have an “M” superscript with
their SP as a reminder of the unique status of these
units (4.3) and their special Fire Combat column shift.
3.1.4 Movement Allowance: The second number on the counter
is the unit’s Movement Allowance. A unit’s movement ability is
expressed in the number of total Movement Points (MPs) that can
be spent during one Movement action. The Movement Allowance
can be adjusted by various game conditions.
3.1.4.1 Horse Artillery units have a “horse head”
graphic displayed to the right of the Movement Al-
lowance. This is to remind players of their special
“move and fire” ability (8.1).
3.1.4.2 Gravelotte St.-Privat (GSP) Units: There are
eight special French unit counters that are only used
in the two Gravelotte-St. Privat scenarios (Crisis on
the Left and Bloody Thursday). These units have a
unique “GSP” indicator on the right side of the counter. They
represent specific smaller units detached by the French army at that
battle and are substituted for the normal unit counters as indicated
in those scenarios.
4 At Any Cost: Metz
EXAMPLE: The Prussian unit pictured on
the left is the 7th Brigade of Weyhern’s
Division of II Corps. On its Fresh side it
has a TCR of 8, has an SP of 6 and a
Movement Allowance of 4. Once flipped over to its Battleworn side,
its TCR drops to 6, it has a lower SP of 3 and slows down to a
Movement Allowance of 3.
3.2 Combat Unit Types
There are four types of Combat units: Infantry (soldier), Cavalry
(horseman), Artillery (cannon) and Mitrailleuse (machinegun).
Each type of Combat unit has unique capabilities that are detailed
in the relevant section of the rules.
3.3 Unit Status
Most units possess three Status levels: Fresh, Battleworn and Bro-
ken. A Combat unit showing its front (full-strength) side is in Fresh
(FR) status. A unit that has received a Casualty Hit is flipped to
its back (reduced-strength) side and is in Battleworn (BW) status.
If a unit fails a Break Test (10.0), it is removed from the map on
its BW side and placed in the Eliminated Units Box on the map.
These units are in Broken status until they return to the game (via
Rebuilding 13.3).
Note: In At Any Cost, once a unit is on its BW side, it cannot be
flipped back over to its FR side during a “Battle” scenario. It is
only possible to do so during an Overnight Game Turn (18.0) of a
“Campaign” scenario by placing the unit in Bivouac status.
3.4 Infantry Detachments
Infantry Detachments represent smaller
groups of troops (regiments and battalions)
that are formed by breaking down the
larger brigade units (17.0). Each Prussian
corps has five Infantry Detachments (labeled “A” through “E”) and
each French corps has two such units (labeled “A” and “B”). An
Infantry Detachment has the same counter layout as normal infan-
try units and also functions the same way. The only difference is
that because of their smaller size, these units only have a BW
side—there is no FR side. Each side of the counter represents a
differently-sized detachment. In addition, they have a higher Move-
ment Allowance than the corresponding infantry units of their side
because of their greater flexibility. Infantry Detachments may not be
Rebuilt (13.3) once Broken in a “Battle” scenario.
3.5 HQ Units
The HQ counters represent a corps or division general, his staff
and the core of the logistical train for his formation. HQs are not
Combat units and thus do not have an SP or TCR value and cannot
engage in any combat. By the same token, these units do not have
an FR or BW side.
Each HQ counter displays game information as follows:
3.5.1 Unit Identification: HQs are identified by the name of the
commander on top and the formation’s Corps Number or indepen-
dent Division Number inside the national flag. The top of the HQ
counter has a distinctively-colored band that matches the color of
the combat units in that HQ’s formation. When an HQ activates,
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all units marked with the same color are activated along with it.
3.5.2 Posture: Each side of the HQ counter lists a Posture, repre-
senting the general operating orders of the formation. One side is
the Aggressive (A) side, which represents units being directed to
deploy, engage the enemy and possibly launch an attack. The oppo-
site side is the Defensive (D) side, simulating orders that command
units to form march columns, hold their positions and regroup. The
entire formation, except for its Out of Command units (7.5 and
14.1), is considered to be operating under the Posture displayed on
the face-up side of the HQ counter. Postures have various effects
on play, as described in 7.0. Out of Command units are considered
to be operating under an Out of Command Posture (14.1).
3.5.3 Command Rating: The Command Rating for the HQ is
shown in a gray box and the unit has a different value on each side
of its counter. This number represents the relative command effi-
ciency of a formation’s headquarters for the Posture listed on that
same side. An HQ that finds itself Overrun (11.11) automatically
has a Command Rating of “0” and thus only units it is stacked with
are considered to be In Command (7.4).
Note: Most Prussian HQs have higher Command Ratings on their
Aggressive sides and the French HQs generally have higher Com-
mand Ratings on their Defensive sides.
3.5.4 Movement Allowance: This value is listed in white font to the
right of the Command Rating and represents the HQ’s movement
ability in the same manner as a combat unit. An HQ is considered
to be “Infantry” for terrain movement costs.
The French HQ pictured is the III Corps headquarters under LeB-
oeuf. All French units with a red band on the top of their counters
belong to this formation and will activate along with this HQ.
When in “A” Posture, its Command Rating is 2 and when in “D”
Posture, the Command Rating is 3. The Movement Allowance of
the unit is 4, regardless of the Posture.
3.6 Game Markers
Game markers are used to note certain game conditions and are
placed as instructed by the relevant rules section. It is suggested
that players place relevant markers under the affected unit to keep
the identity of units clear to each side and to hide the condition of
the unit from the opposing player. Players need not reveal game
markers until the time that the condition they represent affects play.
3.6.1 Morale Hit Markers: These markers indicate when a unit
is suffering from a temporary loss of cohesion and “elan” due
to receiving one or more Morale Hits (9.2). The markers have
“Shaken!” printed on one side and “Disrupted!” on the other side.
A unit with a Shaken marker is said to be a Shaken Unit and has
its SP and TCR each reduced by one (–1). A unit with a Disrupted
 At Any Cost: Metz
marker is said to be a Disrupted Unit and has its SP and TCR each
reduced by two (–2). These markers can be flipped or removed
through Recovery (13.2).
3.6.2 Ammunition Problem Markers: These markers are applied
when a unit suffers an “Ammunition Problem” result while issuing
Fire Combat (8.8). The markers have “Low Ammo” on the front
side and “Rationed Ammo” on the reverse side. A Low Ammo
marker causes a two-column shift left modifier when issuing Fire
Combat (only) and a Rationed Ammo causes a four-column shift
left modifier when issuing Fire Combat. These markers can also
be flipped or removed through Recovery (13.2).
3.6.3 Miscellaneous Markers: There are numerous other markers
used in the game—the “Game Turn” marker, the “Leader Casualty”
marker, etc.—which are explained in their relevant sections.
3.7 Chits
Chits are the counters that are drawn from an opaque container and
tell the players which formation will be activated next or which
Event can be enacted. There are four types of chits: Activation
Chits (6.1), Commander-in-Chief (CIC) Chits (6.2), Event Chits
(6.3) and the Fortunes of War Chit (6.4).
3.8 Player Aids
Each player receives a copy of the General Player Aid card, con-
taining the Sequence of Play, Terrain Effects Chart, etc. and another
card with the Combat Results Tables and all necessary shifts and
modifiers listed that are needed to resolve Fire and Assault Combat.
3.9 Scenario Game Tracks
The Scenario Game Track cards display all the game tracks and
reminder notes that are necessary for playing the corresponding
scenario. These should be kept in an area where both players can
easily reference the track information. Various game markers are
placed on these tracks during play.
3.10 Draw Cup
Players must provide an opaque container (a cup, glass or bowl)
from which the game’s chits are blindly drawn.
3.11 Dice
The game includes four ten-sided dice (D10’s): one red, one gray
and two white. The French player takes the red and white dice while
the Prussian player takes the gray and white dice. The “0” result
on the D10’s is to be read as a “10”.
4.0 STACKING
4.1 Stacking Limit
Stacking refers to the number of units that may occupy the same
hex. Generally, a maximum of two units may be in a single hex at
the end of a unit’s movement or at the end of any Phase or Step.
There are a few exceptions.
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4.1.1 Only one Fresh infantry brigade-sized unit may be in a hex
(i.e., any non-Infantry Detachment infantry unit). It may be stacked
with one other unit, but not another Fresh infantry brigade. The
unit may be stacked with a Battleworn infantry brigade-sized unit.
4.1.2 HQs and Mitrailleuse units may stack freely—there is no
limit to how many of these types of units can be stacked in a hex.
4.1.3 Markers of any kind stack freely—there is no limit to the
number of markers that can be in a hex.
4.1.4 The stacking limit can be temporarily exceeded as units pass
through hexes with other units during movement (however, see
Road Movement below), but they cannot end their moves in an
over-stacked situation.
4.2 Road Movement
Units wishing to use the Road movement rate bonus may not stack
at any point of their movement along the Road, except if such a hex
is occupied only by units or markers that stack freely. If they do
move into a hex with another eligible unit(s), they may not use the
1 MP Road rate nor may they use the Road March Column bonus
movement (11.9) in that hex. Instead, the moving unit must use
the MP cost of the other terrain in the hex (i.e., as if the Road was
not there). Note that this means that a unit can begin its move in
a stack, but must travel individually in order to use the Road rate.
DESIGN NOTE: Essentially, the road is clogged with traffic and
the moving units must leave the road temporarily to go around the
blocking units. Note that this is an intentionally simple rule—we
are erring in the direction of making proper road march manage-
ment an issue for the player to deal with, but in a playable manner.
4.3 Mitrailleuse Batteries
Mitrailleuse units are actually sub-units to their parent
artillery units. The parent artillery unit has the same
Division Name designation in its Unit ID as its asso-
ciated Mitrailleuse unit. The French player must al-
ways keep the two units stacked together, with the Mitrailleuse unit
directly under the parent artillery unit. The two counters are treat-
ed as one combined unit for all purposes (including SP totals,
stacking, Abandoning Position, application of enemy combat re-
sults, Morale Hits, Rebuilding attempts, etc.) except when issuing
Fire Combat (see 8.7). During Fire Combat, the Mitrailleuse fires
separately from the artillery unit. By the same token, any Ammu-
nition Problem results (see 8.8) are tracked separately for the two
units (so one or the other could be carrying a “Low Ammo” or
“Rationed Ammo” marker while the other does not). Place any
Morale Hit marker (which will affect both units equally) under the
Mitrailleuse unit—an Ammo Problems marker is placed only under
the affected unit.
EXAMPLE: If a Fresh artillery unit stacked with its Fresh Mitrail-
leuse unit takes a Casualty Hit, both units are flipped over to their
Battleworn sides. When firing, resolve the two units’ fire separately
and if, for example, the artillery unit achieves a ”Low Ammo”
result, place the relevant marker only under the artillery unit.
4.4 Fortresses
Fortress hexes allow only one combat unit in each hex and only
French units may enter a Fortress hex.
6 At Any Cost: Metz
5.0 SEQUENCE OF PLAY
Each Game Turn of At Any Cost: Metz 1870 is played in a series
of Phases and Steps, each of which must be completed before
proceeding to the next Phase or Step. When the last Step of the last
Phase is concluded, a Game Turn is finished and play proceeds to
the following Game Turn. If it is the last Game Turn of the scenario,
players reference the Victory Determination procedures. Game play
proceeds in the following sequence:
1. PLANNING PHASE
2. CHIT DRAW PHASE
3. ACTIVATION PHASE
a. HQ Command Step
b. Fire Combat Step
c. Movement Step
d. Assault Combat Step
e. Rally Step
f. Out of Command Step
4. END TURN PHASE
a. French Command Event Step
b. Prussian Command Event Step
c. Victory Determination Step
d. Housekeeping Step
5.1 Planning Phase
At the start of each Game Turn (and for most, but not all, scenari-
os) both players gather their eleven Event Chits together and then
secretly select any one Event Chit (6.3) to place immediately into
the Draw Cup—this is the Planned Event chit. The Planned Event
chit can be any Event Chit of the player’s choosing. Players then
simultaneously drop this selected chit directly into the Draw Cup.
Each player then flips all his remaining Event Chits over to their
“Command Event” sides and mixes them up. The players then
each randomly select five of their remaining Event Chits (without
looking at their Event description sides) and simultaneously place
them into the Draw Cup. The remaining five Event Chits are placed
aside and will not participate in the current Game Turn. They cannot
be referenced for the remainder of the turn and remain unknown
to the players until the end of the turn.
Note: This procedure may change slightly with each scenario, as
detailed in that section of the Play Book.
Next, both players determine which Activation Chits (6.1) and CIC
Chits (6.2) are available this Game Turn (per the scenario instruc-
tions and any applicable Command Event procedures) and place
all such chits into the Draw Cup. Finally, the Fortunes of War Chit
(6.4) is added to the cup (unless the scenario being played does not
use it). The player assigned to draw chits this turn (5.2) shakes up
the Draw Cup and places it nearby for easy access.
5.2 Chit Draw Phase
One of the players (the Prussian player on even-numbered turns
and the French player on odd-numbered turns) randomly draws one
chit from the Draw Cup. Game play proceeds as follows.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
5.2.1 If the drawn chit is an Activation Chit or a CIC
Chit, all eligible units as indicated by the chit are
“activated”. Proceed to the Activation Phase. After all
activated units have completed Steps “a” through “f”
of the phase, the drawn chit is placed aside for this Game Turn and
the next chit is drawn.
5.2.2 If the drawn chit is an Event Chit, the player who
owns that chit enacts that Event per 6.3. The drawn
Event Chit is either held, immediately applied, placed
in the Command Event area or placed out of play
depending on how it is enacted. Once the status of the Event Chit
is determined, the next chit is drawn.
5.2.3 If the drawn chit is the Fortunes of War Chit, the
effect of the chit is resolved and applied immediately
(or is made note of as indicated). Once the status of
the Fortunes of War Chit is determined, the next chit
is drawn.
5.3 Activation Phase
If the drawn chit is any Activation or CIC Chit all eligible units
belonging to the indicated HQ or chosen Division (6.2.1) are acti-
vated. All activated units then conduct the following six Steps in
the order shown. Activated units must complete each Step before
continuing to the next one:
a. HQ Command Step: the owning player chooses a Posture (7.0)
for the activated HQ. The player then determines which units
are In Command (7.4) and which are Out of Command (7.5),
placing an “Out of Command” marker on each of those units.
b. Fire Combat Step: eligible In Command units issue Fire
Combat (8.0).
c. Movement Step: eligible In Command units conduct movement
(11.0).
d. Assault Combat Step: eligible In Command units conduct and
resolve Assault Combat (12.0).
e. Rally Step: eligible In Command units may Regroup or Rebuild
(13.0).
f. Out of Command Step: each Out of Command unit, in any
order, has its OOC marker revealed and immediately follows
the resulting instructions.
After the Out of Command Step, the drawn Activation / CIC Chit
is placed aside and out of play for the remainder of this Game
Turn. Players then return to the Chit Draw Phase unless there are
no chits left in the cup. In that case, proceed to the End Turn Phase.
5.4 End Turn Phase
After all chits have been drawn from the cup and acted upon, both
players conduct the following four Steps in order:
a. French Command Event Step: the French player resolves the
appropriate Command Event Track effects, if any (15.1). In some
scenarios, other activities may also be performed in this step.
b. Prussian Command Event Step: the Prussian player resolves
the appropriate Command Event Track effects, if any (15.2).
In some scenarios, other activities may also be performed in
this step.
 At Any Cost: Metz
c. Victory Determination Step: players check the Victory
Conditions for the scenario to see if an Automatic Victory has
been achieved. If this is the last Game Turn of the scenario, the
game is over and players determine the level of Victory (15.3).
d. Housekeeping Step: players clean up and update the game
markers, tracks, etc. Then proceed to the next Game Turn, unless
the last turn was just completed (15.4).
Note: Throughout the Game Turn, certain Event Chits may be eli-
gible to be played at various times during each player’s Activation
Phase, as allowed by that particular chit (see 6.3).
6.0 ACTIVATION AND EVENT
CHITS
6.1 Activation Chits
Activation Chits are each labeled with one of the Prussian or French
HQ identities. All eligible Activation Chits (including those arriving
as Reinforcements this turn) are placed in the Draw Cup during the
Planning Phase (this is detailed in each scenario). Those Activation
Chits representing formations that are not yet in the game are left out
of the cup for the current turn. When drawn, the HQ that matches
the drawn Activation Chit is activated, along with all its subordinate
units. After activation is completed, place the Activation Chit out
of play for the rest of this Game Turn.
6.2 Commander-in-Chief (CIC) Chits
There are two CIC chits that provide a special Activation oppor-
tunity for each side and are available as instructed by the specific
scenario being played. The Prussians have the Prussian General
Staff chit and the French have the Marshal Bazaine chit. These
chits are implemented when drawn as indicated below. After this
special activation is finished, the CIC chit is discarded for the
turn. Note that units that are activated by these special chits and
have not yet activated this turn can still be activated normally later
without penalty. Likewise, units that have already activated may
do so again with this chit.
6.2.1 Prussian General Staff: This chit may be played
immediately when drawn or held until later in the turn
and played at the start of any Chit Draw Phase this
same Game Turn (i.e., before the regular chit is drawn).
The Prussian player may then select any one Prussian unit or
Grouped Division to activate.
A Grouped Division consists of units from the same division,
including any Divisional Artillery units, each of which is located
within two hexes of at least one other unit from that same division.
Units outside that distance cannot be used with this group activation.
Exception: If the player is activating a Corps-attached Cavalry
Division, he may also include an eligible Corps Horse Artillery
unit along with that Grouped Division.
This special activation can be also used on a unit(s) of any one
selected Division that is entirely or in part located in the Available
to Rebuild Box. All Division units in that box are considered to
be their own Grouped Division. By the same token, all units of a
Division that are arriving this turn as a Reinforcement also can be
considered their own Grouped Division and be brought on together.
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Note that in both these cases, off-map units cannot be combined
with on-map units into a Grouped Division.
The selected units immediately conduct a normal Activation Phase,
except that they are all automatically In Command for Activation
purposes (only), regardless of their distance from the HQ, and they
operate under any one chosen Posture (immediately flip the unit’s
associated HQ to the same Posture). All normal procedures follow
thereafter under the limits of the chosen Posture.
EXAMPLE: The Prussian player has just drawn the III Corps Ac-
tivation Chit and conducts the Activation Phase for all III Corps
units to conclusion. In the very next Chit Draw Phase, he then
draws the Prussian General Staff CIC Chit. He announces that he
will use the chit immediately and activates Stulpnagel’s Division
and places it in Aggressive Posture. He flips the III Corps HQ to
its “A” side. Looking at the map, the 9/Stulp unit is in hex 2024,
10/Stulp is in 2022 and the Stulp Artillery is in 1825. Each unit is
within two hexes of another unit of the division and thus this is a
Grouped Division. All three units are then automatically In Com-
mand and may fire, move and/or assault normally (even though
they were activated previously in the turn as part of the regular
III Corps activation).
Note: Corps-level units and Infantry Detachments cannot be part
of a Grouped Division but one such unit can be individually acti-
vated with this chit.
Continuing the above example, if the III Corps Artillery unit was
in hex 1823, it could not be included as part of the Stulpnagel
Grouped Division. If the Prussian player wanted to issue fire with
that unit, then it alone could be activated with the CIC chit, but no
other unit could be included in that activation.
6.2.2 Marshal Bazaine Chit: This chit must be played
immediately when drawn (note that this is different
than the Prussian CIC chit). The French player may
select any one unit or Grouped Division to activate,
even if it has already activated this turn. The chosen units then
proceed in the same manner as with the Prussian General Staff chit
(above).
Note: In most scenarios this chit is not available to the French play-
er unless he earns it by successful use of the French Offensive Spirit
Command Event procedure (see specific scenario instructions).
6.3 Event Chits
The front side of each Event Chit lists a
game event which can be used by the
owning player at an eligible time; the back
of every Event Chit lists the text “Com-
mand Event”. When drawn, the Event Chit applies only to the
player who owns it (blue = French, gray = Prussian). If playing a
scenario that uses Command Events, the owning player immedi-
ately decides which side of the chit he will use—either the one on
the front of the chit (the Unique Event) or the one on the back (the
Command Event). The player must commit to this choice now and
cannot re-designate a chit that has already been declared as a
Unique or Command Event Chit. If not playing a scenario with
Command Events, ignore that side of the chit and use only the
Unique Event procedures.
8 At Any Cost: Metz
EXAMPLE: If the French player draws the “Beaten Zone” Event
chit, decides to use it for its Unique Event and hold it to use later
in the turn to fire at some approaching Prussian units, he cannot
later decide to place it on a French Command Event Track (even
if he holds it and never gets to use it for its Beaten Zone effect).
The player then follows the instructions to implement that event
(which may include holding it for use later that same Game Turn).
There is no limit to how many individual chits can be played at
the same time, as long as each play is an otherwise legal use of
the chit. Whenever the Event Chit is used and resolved, the chit
is placed out of play for the remainder of the current Game Turn.
6.3.1 Unique Event Chits: The front side of the Event Chit con-
tains a Unique Event. Each Unique Event is used differently by the
owning player. Exactly how and when such an event can be used is
detailed in the Unique Event Descriptions on each player’s Player
Aid card. Unique Events come in three types:
a. Play Immediately: The Event must be played immediately if
used as a Unique Event—it cannot be held until later in the turn.
There are four such Events: Auftragstaktik, Bazaine’s Malaise,
Feu de Bataillon and Prussian Aggressive Tactics.
b. Play Immediately or Hold: The Event can be played
immediately (as above) or held for later use (as below), to be
played at any eligible time (ex: A Cloud of Skirmishers);
c. Hold: The Event must be held and can be played only at any
eligible time (ex: Command Initiative). The chit is placed face-
down in front of the owning player.
For events that can be played at any eligible time during the
Activation Phase, this literally means at any eligible time. The
holding player simply stops play and announces he would like to
play a chit. If both players wish to simultaneously play a chit(s),
the Prussian player goes first with all his eligible Events. The event
is then carried out—results are applied and play resumes where it
left off. In cases of Opportunity Fire ability (Krupp’s Guns, Beat-
en Zone and A Cloud of Skirmishers), see 11.5 for further details
on exact procedures. Any Unique Events that can and wish to be
played must be used before play proceeds to the End Turn Phase.
Otherwise they are lost to the holding player.
6.3.2 Command Event Chits: The back side of the
Event Chit represents the Command Event. When an
Event Chit is drawn, the owning player may opt to use
the chit for its Command Event instead of its Unique
Event (all Event chits can be used for the Command Event side).
If he chooses to do so, he immediately places the chit on the ap-
propriate track, depending on which of the Command Event types
he wishes to influence and which scenario is being played. Each
Command Event is used differently by the owning player and is
detailed in the Command Event Descriptions of each scenario.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
6.4 Fortunes of War Chit
This chit is normally available, depending
on the scenario being played. When the
Fortunes of War Chit is drawn, the
non-drawing player rolls 1d10 and checks
the following table to determine how the chit is implemented:
1 = Wayward French Unit (a)
2 = Wayward Prussian Unit (b)
3 – 5 = Degrade the Next Chit (c)
6 – 8 = Enhance the Next Chit (d)
9 = Leader Casualty (e)
0 = Lull in the Battle (f)
Results are applied as follows:
a. Wayward French Unit: The Prussian player may move any one
French unit (Combat or HQ) on the map, one hex in any direction
he chooses. This must be a legal move per the normal Movement
and Stacking rules but a unit cannot be moved off the map. If moved
adjacent to an enemy unit, normal Defensive Fire occurs (11.4).
b. Wayward Prussian Unit: The French player may move any one
Prussian unit (Combat or HQ) on the map, one hex in any direction
he chooses. This must be a legal move per the normal Movement
and Stacking rules but a unit cannot be moved off the map. If moved
adjacent to an enemy unit, normal Defensive Fire occurs (11.4).
c. Degrade the Next Chit: Place the Fortunes of War chit on its
“Degrade Next Chit” side next to the draw cup as a reminder.
• If the next chit drawn is an Event Chit, it is discarded for the turn
with no effect.
• If the next chit drawn is an Activation Chit or a CIC Chit, the
activated formation’s HQ must be placed in Defensive Posture
and units that are then In Command may only conduct the Fire
Combat Step. Out of Command units may not issue Fire Combat
and are not given OOC markers (because there is no Out of
Command Step). All other Steps of the Activation Phase are
ignored and are not performed by the activated formation. The
CIC chit still allows the selection of an eligible unit or Grouped
Division, but all other procedures are then superseded by the
degraded effects. In the case of a degraded Prussian CIC Chit,
it must be played immediately—it may not be held for later.
d. Enhance the Next Chit: Place the Fortunes of War chit on its
“Enhance Next Chit” side next to the draw cup.
• If the next chit drawn is an Event Chit, the owning player also
gets an immediate and free Krupp’s Guns Event (if Prussian) or
Beaten Zone Event (if French) in addition to the drawn Event
Chit. The additional, free Event must be used immediately but
can be used either before or after the drawn Event Chit.
• If the next chit is an Activation or CIC Chit, the owning player
does not need to assign a Posture to the activated formation.
Instead, it gets a Special Posture, which allows all the benefits
of both normal Postures, and the HQ is simply flipped to its
greater Command Rating side. The Special Posture means that
the activated formation may use the Combat allowances of the
Aggressive Posture plus it can use the Road March Column
bonus, build Earthworks and Rally per the Defensive Posture.
 At Any Cost: Metz
All such allowed procedures must still follow the normal rules
and procedures.
e. Leader Casualty: Place a “Leader Casualty –1 CR” marker
next to the draw cup. Whenever the next Activation Chit (only) is
drawn, the corresponding HQ immediately has a “Leader Casualty
–1 CR” marker placed under it. If no Activation Chits remain in the
cup when this chit is drawn, there is no effect and it is discarded
for the turn. The “Leader Casualty” marker stays with the HQ for
the remainder of the game (though it may be removed in some
circumstances) and signifies that the HQ’s Command Ratings are
both reduced by one (–1). Should an HQ suffer a second Leader
Casualty result, the marker is removed and the HQ returns to its
printed Command Ratings.
f. Lull in the Battle: Place the Fortunes of War chit on its “De-
grade Next Chit” side next to the draw cup as a reminder. Apply
the Degrade the Next Chit procedure (“c” above) for the remainder
of this Game Turn.
DESIGN NOTE: The Fortunes of War chit represents all the things
that can go wrong (or right) on a historical battlefield but are
conditions and events that most wargames cannot simulate effec-
tively. Events like units becoming lost, colonels disobeying orders,
local commanders perceiving enemy threats, sudden downpours,
blinding battlefield smoke, general exhaustion, enlightened lead-
ership, commander illness, etc. All the things that generals had to
deal with but that are seldom reflected in traditional game play.
These are the fortunes of war that are often thrust at battlefield
leaders and they can be both frustrating and fortuitous. In either
case, they happened and thus are represented in the Blind Swords
game system.
7.0 POSTURES AND COMMAND
The first step in the Activation Phase is the HQ Command Step and
this is when the activated HQ selects its Posture for the Phase. The
chosen Posture sets the parameters for what the activated HQ and
its subordinated units can do this turn. Postures are in effect only
during the current HQ activation and during the current Activation
Phase—they are ignored at all other times during the turn.
7.1 Postures
HQs are responsible for issuing “orders” to their subordinate units
(those with the same color-coded band on their counters). These
orders are abstractly represented by the player selecting one of two
Postures for the HQ. When activated, the HQ counter is displayed
on the map with either its front side or reverse side showing. Each
side of the counter lists a Posture (either “A” for Aggressive or
“D” for Defensive), along with a Command Range (in hexes) that
applies to that Posture (only). During the HQ Command Phase,
the owning player may change the active HQ’s Posture by simply
flipping the counter to show the desired side.
7.2 Types of Postures
There are two possible Postures that an HQ can be under, each
with a distinctive list of allowed and disallowed actions, detailed
as follows:
7.2.1 Aggressive (A): Activated units may move up to their full
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Movement Allowance, Engage (11.3) an enemy unit, conduct Fire
Combat (8.0) and conduct Assault Combat (12.0). Cavalry units
may conduct Cavalry Charges (11.6). However, activated units
may not use Road March Column movement (11.9), Rally (13.0)
or build Earthworks (16.0) during this Phase.
7.2.2 Defensive (D): Activated units may move up to their full
Movement Allowance, use Road March Column movement if eli-
gible, conduct Fire Combat, Rally and build Earthworks. However,
activated units may not Engage the enemy nor conduct Assault
Combat, except for cavalry units that begin the Phase adjacent to
an enemy unit. These cavalry units (only) may conduct an Assault
Combat (but may not Charge).
In summary, units can always conduct movement and issue fire.
However, if you want to engage the enemy and/or assault them,
then you must be in Aggressive Posture—but you can’t then move
quickly, rally your men or build earthworks. By the same token,
a Defensive Posture allows march columns, digging in and rally-
ing—but you can’t get close to the enemy.
7.3 Command Range
An HQ’s Command Range is equal to its current face-up Command
Rating in hexes (in the gray box). If tracing the Command Range
from any Road hex into any connected Road hex (Minor Road
or Major Road), each such Road hex counts as one-half hex for
Command Range purposes (only). A Forest or any Forested hex
counts as two hexes for Command Range purposes (only). All
other terrain hexes cost one hex of the Command Range and can
be traced through any terrain except un-bridged River hexes. It can
also never be traced through hexes occupied by enemy units. If an
HQ’s Command Rating is not sufficient to pay the cost to enter a
hex, the Command Range does not extend into that hex. Note that
there is no minimum Command Range.
EXAMPLE: An HQ with a Command Rating of “1” cannot trace
its Command Range into a Forested hex. It may, however, trace
through two connected Road hexes.
An Overrun HQ (12.10) can only place a unit currently stacked
with it In Command (7.4). An HQ that is a Reinforcement this turn
and waiting off-map to enter the game has no Command Range.
7.4 In Command Status
During the HQ Command Step, every unit of the activated HQ’s
formation (only) must check if it is In Command. A unit can be In
Command in any of three ways:
a. The unit is within Command Range of its HQ;
b. The unit is adjacent to another unit from the activated formation
that is itself In Command. This can create a chain of adjacent
In Command units;
c. Special situations, such as when entering the game as a
Reinforcement or as part of a CIC Chit activation. These
situations are explained in full later in the rules.
EXAMPLE: If a Corps is marching down a road with its HQ stacked
with the front unit and all its remaining units are adjacent to one
another in line behind the front unit, the entire formation is In
Command, regardless of its actual length.
10 At Any Cost: Metz
A unit that is In Command abides by all the conditions of the
HQ’s Posture and conducts the remainder of the Activation Phase
normally. Units that are Out of Command are marked as such
immediately (7.5). Note that the HQ itself is always considered
to be In Command.
7.5 Out of Command Status
A hex that is not In Command (as defined in 7.4) is
deemed to be Out of Command (OOC). At the start of
each game, all thirteen “Out of Command” markers
are placed in a pile, mixed up and with their generic
“?” side of the marker showing. When a hex is deemed to be OOC,
the owning player randomly draws an “Out of Command” marker
and places it on the hex with its generic “?” side face up. Players
may not look at the back side of the marker until the Out of Com-
mand Step (14.0). This assigned OOC marker affects all units in
that hex.
Roadbound Units Exception: If there is a string of adjacent OOC
units all of which are occupying connected Road hexes (of either
type), then only place one OOC marker in the hex at the head of the
column. This one marker will determine the effect for all connected
OOC units in that roadbound column. Adjacent OOC units that are
not actually on a Road hex cannot be included in the group.
Important: Note that OOC units are not activated with In Command
units. OOC units remain on the map and may not conduct any
activities until the Out of Command Step. During that step, each
OOC marker is flipped over (if more than one, the owning players
chooses the order of activation) and enacted.
Option: If players wish to use a different method of selecting the
OOC marker, get a second cup. Place all the OOC markers in that
cup and keep it nearby both players. During a player’s HQ Com-
mand Step when OOC hexes are identified, the opposing player
draws the OOC markers from the cup without the active player
seeing the actual marker drawn. He then places the chit—“?” side
face up—on the hex(es) in question.
8.0 FIRE COMBAT
8.1 Fire Eligibility
The second step in the Activation Phase is the Fire Combat Step.
Fire Combat is voluntary and can only be conducted by active units
during the Fire Combat Step, attacked units issuing Defensive Fire
during the enemy’s Movement Step, or any unit using an Event
Chit allowing such fire. Cavalry and HQs may not conduct Fire
Combat. Units normally issue Fire Combat individually (however,
see Combined Unit Fire, 8.1.4 below) and each fire is resolved
completely before moving to the next unit. A unit can only fire once
in the Fire Combat Step or due to an Event, but numerous times
when conducting Defensive Fire. Enemy units can be targeted a
multiple number of times by different units firing.
Fire Combat eligibility cases are as follows:
8.1.1 Minimum SP: A unit must have an initial modified SP value
of at least 1/2 SP in order to issue Fire Combat (3.1.3). That does
not include any possible later column shifts.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
EXAMPLE: A Disrupted unit with a printed SP of 2 cannot issue
Fire Combat, as its initial SP would then be zero due to the “Dis-
rupted” marker.
8.1.2 Line of Sight (LOS): When a unit issues Fire Combat at a
target two or more hexes away, it must be able to “see” the target
unit. To determine LOS, draw an imaginary line from the center of
the firing unit’s hex to the center of the target unit’s hex. Any hex
entered by this line in between the firing hex and the target hex is an
Intervening Hex. The LOS stops in any Intervening Hex containing
Blocking terrain or units (as identified below) and will not extend
beyond this hex (but does extend into it). Units can always fire into
and out of hexes containing Blocking terrain. The LOS can also be
Obscured by an Intervening Hex, which means the LOS penetrates
all the way to the intended target hex but with degraded visibility.
Obscured fire allows the unit to issue the Fire Combat but with a
detrimental column shift applied. Line of Sight cases are:
8.1.2.1 Firing unit and Target unit are on same elevation.
a. Any Intervening Hex that is higher than both units will Block
the fire.
b. If all Intervening Hexes are lower than both units, any Intervening
Hex with Forest, Forested or Town terrain or containing any unit
(friendly or enemy) causes an Obscured LOS;
c. If any Intervening Hex is at the same level as both units, the
LOS is Blocked if there is any Forest, Forested, Farm or Town
terrain or any unit in that hex. 
8.1.2.2 Firing unit is at lower elevation than Target unit.
a. Any Intervening Hex that is higher than both units will Block
the fire.
b. If all Intervening Hexes are lower than both units, any Intervening
Hex with Forest, Forested or Town terrain or containing any unit
(friendly or enemy) causes an Obscured LOS.
c. If any Intervening Hex is at the same level as the Firing unit,
such a hex with Forest, Forested or Town terrain or any unit will
cause an Obscured LOS.
d. If any Intervening Hex is at the same level as the Target unit,
such a hex with Forest, Forested, Farm or Town terrain or any
unit will Block the fire.
8.1.2.3 Firing unit is at higher elevation than Target unit.
a. Any Intervening Hex that is higher than both units will Block
the fire.
b. If all Intervening Hexes are lower than both units, any
Intervening Hex with Forest, Forested or Town terrain or any
unit (friendly or enemy) causes an Obscured LOS.
c. If any Intervening Hex is at the same level as the Firing unit,
such an Intervening Hex with Forest, Forested, Farm or Town
terrain or any unit will Block the fire. 
d. If any Intervening Hex is at the same level as the Target unit,
such an Intervening Hex with Forest, Forested or Town terrain
or any unit causes an Obscured LOS.
If a LOS passes exactly along a hexside, the LOS is affected by
the most disadvantageous case presented (to the firer) by the two
adjacent hexes.
Note: There are no “blind zones” or any similar LOS devices
 At Any Cost: Metz
used in this game as in some others. The terrain in this area is
predominantly gently sloped and rather gradual and unintimidat-
ing. So be aware that as long as there are no intervening physical
obstacles, as indicated above, units can see uphill at units even if
they are “set back” on the ridge and vice-versa. It is a very open,
viewer-friendly environment.
EXAMPLE: Here’s part of the setup for the Bloody Thursday sce-
nario. Viewing from the two Prussian units would be determined
as follows:
28/Kam can see hex #3720 but not hex #3719 due to the blocking
of the units in #3720. If those French units were not in #3720, then
the Prussian unit could see into #3719. The unit cannot see hex
#3820 as there is intervening terrain that is higher than both units.
25/Glum cannot see hex #4022 due to the blocking Forested hexes
at the same level as the higher unit. Likewise, it cannot see hex
#3720 due to the Forest hex in #3622. If that Forest was not there
and hex #3622 was Clear, then the unit could see into #3720, but
with an Obscured LOS due to viewing over the Forest terrain in
hex #3722. There is also a blocked LOS into hex #3820 for two
reasons—the Forest terrain blocks LOS for two units on the same
level and due to the protruding higher terrain in hex #3721.
8.1.3 Fire Ranges: Range is measured from the firing unit hex to
the targeted hex in number of hexes. The firing player checks the
Fire Combat Weapon Ranges Table (on the Fire Combat CRT card)
and cross references the firing range with the type of unit firing to
get the Range Category. An infantry unit’s Range is divided into
two categories: Effective Range and Extended Range. An artillery
unit has three Range categories: Effective Range, Extended Range
and Canister Range.
a. Effective Range is the shortest range and represents the normal
engagement range for the unit and has no additional effect on
the unit’s fire.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
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b. Extended Range is the longer range and is less efficient than
Effective Range fire. A unit firing at Extended Range uses only
half of its initial SPs.
c. Canister Range is available to artillery units (but not Mitrailleuse
units) firing at a target unit in an adjacent hex and increases
the firing unit’s SPs by an additional 50% (with a minimum
increase of +1 SP).
8.1.4 Combined Unit Fire: Units of the same type (infantry or
artillery) stacked in the same hex firing at the same target may
add their eligible SPs together into one combined SP total. For the
purpose of combining firing SPs only, infantry and Mitrailleuse
units may add their SPs together into one total (as if they are of
the same type).
8.1.5 HQs cannot be targeted separately and are never affected by
Fire Combat.
8.1.6 Artillery Mobility: Most artillery units that fire
in the Fire Combat Step may not move in the subse-
quent Movement Step (place an “Artillery Fired”
marker on them as a reminder). Horse Artillery units
(3.1.4.1) have the option to fire with half of their normal SPs and
still move during the following Movement Step but with only half
of their Movement Allowance (place a “Horse Artillery 1/2 Fire,
1/2 Move” marker on the unit if this option is chosen).
8.2 Fire Procedure
The owner of the firing unit declares an eligible enemy target hex.
The firing player determines the total number of SPs in the firing
hex and then modifies that total by any of the applicable SP ad-
justments (8.3). He then finds the column on the Combat Results
Table (CRT) that contains the adjusted SP total. The firing player
then checks for any applicable Column Shifts (8.4). These shifts
are cumulative and all shifts are figured as one net total shift before
referencing the CRT. The firing player will then roll two dice and
determine the result of the fire.
8.3 Firing Unit SP Adjustments
A unit issuing Fire Combat may have its SP value adjusted for that
fire by various conditions. These conditions are cumulative.
a. Artillery unit firing at Canister Range = increase SPs by 50%
(with a minimum increase of +1 SP)
b. Firing unit at Extended Range = decrease SPs to 50%
Remember to first adjust a unit’s SP value by any Shaken, Disrupt-
ed or Horse Artillery markers (8.1.6). Then make the applicable
adjustment above.
EXAMPLE: An 8 SP Shaken unit firing at Extended Range will
have 3 SP for the Fire Combat (8 SP minus 1 SP for Shaken = 7
SP; halved to 3.5 SP for Extended Range; rounded to 3 SP).
8.4 Firing Unit Column Shifts
A unit/hex issuing Fire Combat may have the final net SPs column
shifted to the left or to the right depending on various applicable
conditions. These shifts are cumulative and all shifts are figured
together as one net total shift before referencing the CRT. Shifts to
the left of the “C” column on the CRT are resolved on that column.
12 At Any Cost: Metz
a. Target in Town terrain hex = three column shifts left
b. Target in Farm terrain hex = two column shifts left
c. Target in Forest or Quarry terrain hex = one column shift left
d. Target in Stream terrain hex (even with a Bridge) = one column
shift right
e. Target in River Bridge terrain hex = two column shifts right
f. Target in Forested Ravine terrain hex (even with a Bridge) =
one column shift right
g. Target in Ravine terrain hex (even with a Bridge) = two column
shifts right
Note: In the case of multiple terrain types in the target hex, use
only the single most beneficial shift to the target unit. Also note that
Forested Ravine is its own terrain type—not two types.
h. Target in Hasty Works hex = one column shift left
i. Target in Entrenchment hex = two column shifts left
j. Half or more of Target hex SPs are Cavalry = three column shifts
right
k. Target unit has a Battlefield Conditions Event Chit played =
two column shifts left
l. Target unit is a French unit eligible for a Feu de Bataillon Event
Chit = one column shift left
m. Firing Unit is Prussian Artillery = one column shift right
n. Firing Unit is French Infantry or Mitrailleuse = one column shift
right
o. Firing unit has a Low Ammo marker = two column shifts left
p. Firing unit has a Rationed Ammo marker = four column shifts
left
q. Firing Artillery unit is on a higher elevation hex than the Target
hex (Plunging Fire) = one column shift right
r. Firing unit has an Obscured LOS to target hex = two column
shifts left
s. Any Defensive Fire issued by a unit after the first such fire in a
single Step = two column shifts left, regardless of the number
of additional fires issued by that unit in this step.
t. Firing unit is a French unit eligible for a Feu de Bataillon Event
Chit = one column shift right
u. Firing unit is a French unit with a Moulin a Café Event Chit =
three column shifts right
v. Firing unit has a Battlefield Conditions Event Chit played =
two column shifts right
8.5 Fire Combat Results
After determining the final modified SP column that applies,
the firing player rolls two dice (one colored and one white) and
cross-references the colored die roll (only) with the final SP column
(after any shifts are applied). Apply the result indicated.
Note: Don’t pick up the dice after making the initial roll—you may
need the white die roll to determine the Morale Test result.
Fire Combat Results are applied as follows:
a. NE = no effect on the targeted hex.
b. MT = all units in the targeted hex immediately take a Morale
Test (9.0).
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
c. MT +1 = all units in the targeted hex immediately take a Morale
Test and increase the Morale Test die roll by one.
d. MT +2 = all units in the targeted hex immediately take a Morale
Test and increase the Morale Test die roll by two.
e. MT +3 = all units in the targeted hex immediately take a Morale
Test and increase the Morale Test die roll by three.
f. CH = inflict one Casualty Hit (8.6) on the targeted hex.
g. CH + MT = inflict one Casualty Hit on the targeted hex and
then all units in hex must take a Morale Test.
h. 2 CH = inflict two Casualty Hits on the targeted hex.
i. 2 CH + MT = inflict two Casualty Hits on the targeted hex and
then all units in hex must take a Morale Test.
If there are two units in the targeted hex, both can be affected by
the result. With an MT result, each unit takes its own Morale Test.
With a CH result, the largest SP unit takes the Casualty Hit (if
equal, the owning player assigns the hit). With a 2 CH result, each
unit takes a Casualty Hit.
8.6 Casualty Hits
When one or more Casualty Hits are inflicted on a targeted unit,
the unit is reduced one Status Level (3.3) for each such hit. This
means for each Casualty Hit, a Fresh unit is flipped to its Battleworn
side or a unit on its Battleworn side must take a Break Test (10.0).
Therefore, a Battleworn unit that suffers a “2 CH” result must take
two consecutive Break Tests.
8.7 Mitrailleuse Units
Mitrailleuse units issue Fire Combat separately from their parent
artillery units (4.3) and may even fire at a different target and com-
bine their SPs with a stacked infantry unit. Note that the Mitrailleuse
unit uses different Range categories (8.1.3) and different column
shifts (8.4) than its parent artillery unit. If there is a Morale Hit on
an artillery/Mitrailleuse unit, each counter’s SP value is adjusted
separately for that marker when issuing Fire Combat.
EXAMPLE: A Shaken 5 SP artillery unit is stacked with its 4 SP
Mitrailleuse unit. When issuing Fire Combat, the artillery fires with
4 SP and the Mitrailleuse with 3 SP (both deducting 1 SP for the
Shaken marker). However, if attacked in Assault Combat, the unit
would fight as a combined 4 SP (9 SP minus 1 SP for Shaken = 8
SP; then 1/2 SPs in Assault Combat = 4 SP).
8.8 Ammunition Problems
If a unit issuing Fire Combat (only) for any
reason rolls “doubles” on the two dice (for
example, a colored “8” and a white “8”),
the firing unit experiences ammo problems
(a shortage of ammunition or other logistical issue). If more than
one unit is involved in the fire, apply the marker to the largest
printed SP unit only (owning player’s choice if equal). Apply the
Fire Combat result normally and at the conclusion of its fire, the
firing unit is given a “Low Ammo” marker. However, should a unit
receive a second Ammo Problems result, flip the “Low Ammo”
marker over to its “Rationed Ammo” side. A unit with a “Rationed
Ammo” marker ignores any further Ammo Problem results. If two
units are firing together and “doubles” are rolled, the owning play-
 At Any Cost: Metz
er will choose which unit gets the Ammo Problem effect. Note that
units with either marker will have a detrimental column shift when
issuing Fire Combat (8.4 o & p). These markers can be removed
or reduced with the Recovery action (13.2). A unit with an Ammo
Problems marker conducts Assault Combat normally.
8.9 Fortresses
Fortress terrain hexes, and any units in them, cannot be fired upon by
Prussian units. Prussian units that come within 2 hexes or less and
within normal LOS (Unblocked and Unobstructed) of the Fortress
hex can be fired at with its inherent 10 SP of French artillery fire.
This fire is conducted once each turn and against only one eligible
target hex. The fire is resolved during the Fire Combat Step when
the French Imperial Guard Corps formation is drawn from the cup
(even if the formation is not actually activated). This fortress fire
is resolved using normal Fire Combat procedures.
8.10 HQ Units and Fire Combat
An HQ may not issue Fire Combat and cannot be a target, even if
stacked with another friendly unit. The HQ cannot have Morale or
Casualty Hits applied to it.
9.0 MORALE TESTS
If a unit receives any Fire Combat result that indicates that it must
take a Morale Test (MT), the owning player refers to the white
die roll (from the original 2d10 dice roll result made during the
Fire Combat resolution step), modifies that die roll result by the
applicable MT modifiers from the combat (8.5) and compares that
net die result to the TCR of the targeted unit to get the differential
(9.1). If two units are in the testing hex, both separately compare
their individual TCRs to the modified die result and each applies
the result to itself.
9.1 Morale Test Result
Calculate the modified white die roll and subtract the TCR of the
testing unit from that die roll. The net result is the MT Differential
(which can be a negative number). The MT Differential is applied
to the testing unit as follows:
• MT Differential of –1 or less = no effect on the testing unit.
• MT Differential of 0 to +3 = inflict one Morale Hit on the testing
unit.
• MT Differential of +4 or more = inflict two Morale Hits on the
testing unit.
9.2 Morale Hits
When one or more Morale Hits are inflicted on a unit, apply such
hits as follows:
a. One Morale Hit Result
• If the testing unit currently has no Morale Hits, place a “Shaken”
marker under the unit.
• If the unit has a “Shaken” marker, flip the marker over to its
“Disrupted” side.
• If the unit has a “Disrupted” marker, it must apply the Morale Hit
as a Casualty Hit instead (8.6) and also keeps the “Disrupted”
marker.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
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b. Two Morale Hits Result
• If the testing unit currently has no Morale Hits, place a
“Disrupted” marker under the unit.
• If the unit has a “Shaken” marker, flip the marker over to its
“Disrupted” side and then apply the second Morale Hit as a
Casualty Hit (8.6) and also keep the “Disrupted” marker.
• If the unit has a “Disrupted” marker, it must apply the Morale
Hits as two Casualty Hits and also keeps the “Disrupted” marker.
EXAMPLE: A French stack containing a Fresh infantry brigade
(with a TCR of “7”), an artillery unit and a Mitrailleuse unit (with
a TCR of”6”) gets hit by Prussian artillery fire with a Fire Combat
result of “MT +2”. If the white die roll is a “4”, the modified MT
die roll would then be “6”. This is compared to the TCRs of both
units in the hex. The infantry unit result is therefore a “–1” MT
Differential and it passes with no effect. The artillery/Mitrailleuse
unit gets a “0” MT Differential and thus suffers one Morale Hit
and is given a “Shaken” marker (which applies to both the artillery
and Mitrailleuse units).
10.0 BREAK TESTS
A Break Test is required in the following cases:
• When a Fresh unit receives two Casualty Hits.
• When a Battleworn unit receives one Casualty Hit.
• When a Battleworn unit receives two Casualty Hits, it must
take two, separate Break Tests (applying the effects of each
independently).
Note: Units are never automatically Broken by simply receiving
Casualty Hits—they must fail the resulting Break Test in order to
become Broken and be removed from the map.
10.1 Break Test Procedure
For each Break Test, the owning player rolls 1d10 (of either color)
for the testing unit and compares the die roll result to the testing
unit’s TCR. Note: In the case of a Fresh unit that receives two Ca-
sualty hits, be sure to flip the counter to it’s Battleworn side before
conducting the test. The player determines whether it is less than
(and how much less than), equal to or greater than the TCR and
then applies that result as follows:
a. If the die result is less than the TCR of the unit by 4 or more, this
is a Confident Pass. The unit simply remains on its Battleworn
side with no additional effect of the Casualty Hit.
b. If the die roll is less than the TCR of the unit by 1, 2, or 3, this
is a Normal Pass. The unit remains on its Battleworn side but
if it is a Shaken or Disrupted unit, it must also Retreat one hex
away from the firing unit (during Fire Combat) or from the
nearest enemy unit (during Assault Combat) per the regular
Retreat rules (12.8).
c. If the die roll is equal to the TCR of the unit, this is an Uneasy
Pass. The unit remains on its Battleworn side but if it is a Shaken
or Disrupted unit, it must also Retreat two hexes away from the
firing unit (during Fire Combat) or from the nearest enemy unit
(during Assault Combat) per the regular Retreat rules (12.8).
14 At Any Cost: Metz
d. If the die roll is greater than the TCR of the unit, the unit is
Broken and removed from play (10.2).
If a unit must take two Break Tests, apply the effect (if any) of
the first test initially and then make the second test and apply any
additional result again.
EXAMPLE: A Shaken/Battleworn unit with a printed TCR of “6”
has to take a Break Test (and thus its modified TCR is “5”). If the
owning player rolls a “6” the unit breaks and is placed in the “Units
Eliminated This Turn” box. If a “5” is rolled the unit must retreat
two hexes. If a “3” is rolled it retreats only one hex. If the player
rolls a “1” the unit remains where it is with no effect. Note that in
the case of the “5” and “3” die rolls, if the unit was not Shaken it
would not have had to retreat at all.
10.2 Broken Units
Units in At Any Cost: Metz 1870 are never permanently eliminated.
They are instead Broken and rendered “combat ineffective” until
brought back into the game with the Rebuilding activity during
the Rally Step (13.0).
A unit that fails its Break Test (i.e., rolls greater than its TCR) is
said to be Broken. A Broken unit first removes any markers it is
carrying and is then immediately placed in the “Units Eliminated
This Game Turn” Box on the map on its Battleworn side. During
the Housekeeping Phase, all Broken units are moved from the
Eliminated Units Box to the Eligible for Rebuilding Box. From this
box (only), units are eligible to use the Rebuilding action (13.3) to
attempt to bring them back into the game.
Exception: Infantry Detachments that are Broken are returned to
the available Detachment unit pool—they are not placed in the
Eliminated Units Box and cannot be Rebuilt.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
11.0 MOVEMENT
11.1 Procedure
Only units of the currently activated formation and that are In
Command (7.4) can move during the Movement Step. Artillery
units that issued any Fire Combat and Horse Artillery units that
opted to fire at 100% in the previous Fire Combat Step may not
move during the Movement Step. Out of Command units (7.5) are
not moved (if allowed) until the Out of Command Step—not the
Movement Step.
Each unit may spend Movement Points up to its given Movement
Allowance, within the restrictions of terrain costs and Orders.
Stacks of units may be moved together as a group, but be aware that
units wishing to use the Road rate (11.2) and/or the Road March
Column bonus (11.9) must be moved individually and may not
stack while using that mode of movement.
11.2 Terrain Movement Costs
Each unit has a number of Movement Points (MPs) available to use
each turn, as indicated by the Movement Allowance printed on its
counter. Each hex has a dominant terrain feature and costs one or
more MPs to enter depending on the type of unit moving. Active
units move from hex to adjacent hex, paying the MP cost of the hex
being entered, and may continue to move until they have spent a
number of MPs equal to their Movement Allowance. If a unit does
not have sufficient MPs left to pay the cost to enter a hex, it must
halt its movement at that point. However, a unit may always move
at least one hex during its Movement Step, regardless of terrain
costs, as long as it would be otherwise legal to do so.
Refer to the Terrain Effects Chart on the map for terrain costs.
Except for Roads, hexes that contain multiple terrain types apply
the cumulative cost of all the terrain features. Hexside terrain (ex:
Slopes) inflict an additional MP cost on the moving unit that is
added to the terrain cost for the entered hex. Note that Roads—both
Minor and Major—cancel the terrain costs of other terrain in the
hex, and for any hexside terrain crossed, if the unit moves from
one Road hex to a connected Road hex. Qualified Road hex cost is
always 1 MP (exception: see Road March Column—11.9).
11.3 Engagement
A unit is said to Engage an enemy Combat unit anytime it moves
adjacent to that unit. This is important for units with a Defensive
Posture. In addition, most Out of Command units cannot conduct
an Engagement move. Movement adjacent to enemy HQs is not
Engagement.
Note: Engagement is not the same as Assault Combat! Just because
a unit may Engage an enemy unit—move next to it—does not nec-
essarily mean it can also conduct an Assault Combat.
11.4 Defensive Fire
At the instant an enemy unit or stack of units moves into a hex adja-
cent to a friendly infantry or artillery unit during regular movement,
Event Chit movement or Retreat, that friendly unit may immedi-
ately issue Fire Combat at that moving unit/stack (only). Should
the moving unit/stack move adjacent to two or more friendly units
in separate hexes, each hex of units fires separately. Temporarily
 At Any Cost: Metz
halt the enemy unit/stack movement and resolve the fire normally.
If the fire results in any Morale Hit(s) or Casualty Hit(s) on the
moving unit/stack, the unit may not move any further this phase,
unless it was already Retreating (in which case it simply continues
to Retreat). If the result is “No Effect”, the moving unit/stack may
continue to move (and be subject to more Defensive Fire further
along—even from the same unit). Note that there is no limit to the
number of Defensive Fires that may be issued by a given unit, but
each Defensive Fire after the first one issued by that unit in this
same phase applies a two-column-shift-left penalty.
If a moving unit enters a hex adjacent to an enemy unit with another
friendly unit already in the hex, both friendly units are subject to
the Defensive Fire (resolved as a normal stack being fired upon).
Defensive Fire may not be issued if the moving enemy unit is
conducting Breakthrough Movement (12.9).
Note: There are no Zones of Control in At Any Cost: Metz 1870,
as found in many wargames. Units exert their influence and control
of their immediate vicinity with Defensive Fire and Opportunity
Fire (see below).
11.5 Opportunity Fire
Certain Event Chits: Krupp’s Guns, Beaten Zone and A Cloud of
Skirmishers, allow the use of Opportunity Fire. This is Fire Com-
bat which is conducted at the time the Event Chit is played (even
during an enemy unit’s Movement Step). The Krupp’s Guns and
Beaten Zone chits utilize the regular Fire Combat routine and the
A Cloud of Skirmishers chit uses a different method (as explained
on the Event Chits Description card).
The Opportunity Fire Event Chit may only be played after an enemy
unit’s action is announced, either before it is carried out, during the
action or immediately after the action is completed. The Opportu-
nity Fire is issued when the owning player announces its use and
is applied immediately using normal Fire Combat procedures. If
any Casualty Hit or Morale Hit results from the fire on a moving
enemy unit, the unit may not continue its move. If there is no effect
from the fire, the enemy unit may continue its move. Multiple chits
can be played on the same unit, but only one per hex the moving
unit enters. Note also that a unit could hold Opportunity Fire for
when an enemy moves adjacent and then issue both Defensive Fire
(resolved first) and then play the appropriate Event Chit to issue
Opportunity Fire.
Note: Opportunity Fire events are used to harass an opponent’s
moving unit, soften up a target ahead of one’s own assault, etc.
The  Event Chit always takes precedence over whatever other
action is happening, essentially interrupting that action until the
effect of the chit is carried out. Opportunity Fire Event Chits can
even be enacted while other Event Chits are being resolved.
EXAMPLE: If the Prussian player is playing the Auftragstaktik
Event Chit, the French player could use the Beaten Zone Chit to
interrupt the movement and take a shot at the advancing Prussian
unit before it even moves.
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11.6 Cavalry Charges
An active cavalry unit (not Horse Artillery) may con-
duct a special Charge Move during the Movement
Step, which increases the cavalry unit’s SP in the
subsequent Assault Combat by an amount depending
on its Weight Class. The player must announce the charge before
the unit moves and it must be eligible for Engagement (11.3) and
Assault Combat (12.1) normally. The cavalry unit must first qual-
ify as follows:
• It cannot be a Shaken or Disrupted unit.
• It may not be adjacent to the intended target or any other enemy
Combat Unit at the start of the move. It may start adjacent to an
enemy HQ.
• It must have a Line of Sight (8.1.2) to the intended target before
it starts its Charge Move.
• It may not pass through hexes containing any Combat Units
(enemy or friendly). However, the unit may start the Charge
Move stacked with a friendly unit.
• It may only enter Clear and Clear/Road terrain hexes while
charging but may not across a Bridge hex. It may cross a Slope
hexside but not a Steep Slope hexside. Note that in this case,
Roads do not negate the other terrain features contained in a hex.
• The target unit must be in a Clear, Stream or Ravine hex.
• If all the above conditions are met, the owning player must roll
1d10 for the cavalry unit: if the die roll result is less than or
equal to the TCR of the cavalry unit, it may conduct the Charge
Move; if the die roll result is greater than the TCR, the unit may
not conduct the Charge Move (but may still conduct regular
Movement and Assault Combat, if otherwise eligible to do so).
If the Charge Move is made, place a “Cavalry Charge”
marker on the cavalry unit and move it adjacent to its
intended target unit (and suffering any eligible Defen-
sive Fire—11.4). An Assault Combat must be fought
against the charged hex by the Charging unit (at least) if it survives
any Defensive Fire (and regardless of its condition if it is not
eliminated). Other cavalry units may also charge the same enemy
and all other eligible friendly units may even join the Assault
Combat normally. However, if other friendly units join the Assault
Combat, the Charging cavalry unit’s hex must be declared as the
Lead Assault Hex (12.2).
11.6.1 Cavalry Charge Weight Bonus: A cavalry unit that con-
ducts a Charge Move will increase its SPs in that Assault Combat
depending on its Weight Class, as follows:
• Light Cavalry = +1 SP
• Medium Cavalry = +50% SPs (with a minimum increase of +1
SP)
• Heavy Cavalry = 2x SPs (with a minimum increase of +1 SP)
11.6.2 Charge Disorganization: A cavalry unit that conducts a
Charge Move, including a Countercharge (11.7) or Opportunity
Charge (11.8), is always given a Morale Hit at the conclusion of
the Assault Combat Step and after any Breakthrough Move (12.9).
Note: Please be aware that cavalry units are not required to attempt
a Charge Move to conduct Assault Combat—the charge simply
16 At Any Cost: Metz
provides a bonus. Cavalry units may conduct Assault Combat
normally without a Charge Move.
11.7 Cavalry Countercharges
A non-active friendly cavalry unit (only) may attempt to Counter-
charge a Charging enemy cavalry unit if the friendly cavalry unit
is in the target hex of the enemy Charge Move.
The Countercharging cavalry unit may not be a Shaken or Disrupted
unit. Before the Charging unit actually enters the eligible adjacent
hex, the Countercharging unit rolls 1d10 and compares the die roll
result to its TCR. If the die roll result is greater than the TCR, the
Countercharge fails and nothing else happens. If the die roll result
is less than or equal to the TCR, the Countercharging cavalry unit
is moved one hex into the eligible adjacent hex (thus “cutting off”
the Charging enemy cavalry unit). If there are multiple friendly
cavalry units that are eligible to Countercharge, each may be rolled
for separately but only the first one to be successful may actually
conduct a Countercharge.
The two opposing cavalry units must then conduct an Assault
Combat during the upcoming Assault Combat Step. Both cavalry
units are considered to be conducting a Charge Move and both will
receive the appropriate bonus. Important: the initially Charging
cavalry unit is still considered to be the “attacker” and may bring up
supporting units to join in the new Assault Combat attack normally,
with the Countercharging cavalry unit now being the “defender”
in the Assault Combat). A Countercharging Cavalry unit that fails
its test can still attempt further eligible Countercharges in the same
turn, but not against the same enemy unit.
Note: The Charging unit may not complete its originally planned
Charge Move against its intended target if it is successfully Coun-
tercharged. Its movement is finished.
11.8 Cavalry Opportunity Charges
If a friendly cavalry unit has any enemy Combat unit of any type
enter an adjacent hex at any time during the enemy’s Movement
Step (only), the cavalry unit may attempt an immediate Opportunity
Charge. Note that this does not include a situation where the passive
cavalry is the target of an enemy Cavalry Charge (that would be
conducted as a Cavalry Countercharge—11.7).The moving enemy
unit must be in a Clear, Clear/Road, Stream or Ravine hex and the
Opportunity Charging cavalry unit cannot be a Shaken or Disrupted
unit. If eligible, the unit must roll a 1d10 in the same manner as a
Cavalry Countercharge (11.7). If unsuccessful, nothing happens
and the moving enemy unit continues on its way. If successful, the
friendly cavalry unit immediately conducts a regular Assault Combat
while receiving its normal Cavalry Charge Weight Bonus (11.6.1).
After resolving this Assault Combat, the enemy unit may not continue
its movement, regardless of the combat’s outcome (it may, however,
conduct a regular Assault Combat of its own during that phase if it is
otherwise eligible to do so). An Opportunity Charging Cavalry unit
that fails its test can still attempt further eligible Opportunity Charges
in the same turn, but not against the same enemy unit.
Note: This maneuver allows an adjacent-hex charge (which is not
normally allowed for a Charge Move) because we’re assuming
here that the Opportunity Charging Cavalry is actually already
underway in order to intercept the enemy.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
11.9 Road March Column
Units under a Defensive Posture (or as allowed by an Out of
Command result) that move from one Major Road terrain hex to
a connected Major Road terrain hex pay only 1/2 MP to enter that
hex. Units using the Road March Column movement bonus may
not stack with other units during that portion of their movement
(4.2). If they do move through another unit, they may not use the
Road March Bonus rate and must instead use the MP cost of the
other terrain in the entered hex. Units may enter and leave Road
March Column mode as qualified during the same move.
11.10 Arrival and Movement of Reinforcements
Reinforcements should be placed on the Turn Record Track on
their appropriate turn of entry (as indicated by the scenario being
played). Reinforcing units actually enter the game only when their
Activation Chit is drawn (6.1) or if their formation is activated by
the CIC Chit being drawn (6.2). They are automatically considered
to be In Command for the turn of entry only (regardless of where
the HQ is) and units of the formation can all be under any Posture
they wish (again, even if the HQ is on the map and in a different
Posture). Thereafter, the regular Posture and Command rules ap-
ply. Reinforcing units enter the game on their Fresh sides unless
otherwise indicated by the scenario. HQs of reinforcing Corps
enter alone or stacked with any unit of their formation and on the
appropriate Posture side.
11.10.1 Reinforcement Unit Entry: On the turn of entry, place
Reinforcing unit(s) off the map edge near the indicated arrival hex.
When activated, these units enter the map on or within one map
edge hex of the arrival hex. If more Reinforcing units are due to
enter the same map edge hex and the stacking limit is exceeded,
that extra units are lined up off the map one unit/stack behind the
other. Upon activation, Reinforcing units are then moved onto
the map counting the entry hex as the first hex and paying regular
movement costs. Units entering on any Road hex are assumed to be
lined up on the same road off the map. The first unit pays normally
to enter the map edge hex, the second unit pays double the cost to
enter, and the third unit pays triple the cost and so on.
11.10.2 Enemy Unit Proximity: If enemy an Combat unit(s) is in
or adjacent to any one or more of the three available entry hexes,
some or all of the reinforcing units can be delayed one full Game
Turn. Units delayed in such a manner may then change the assigned
arrival hex to any map edge hex within three hexes of the originally
assigned arrival hex. If any of the three new eligible entry hexes are
still occupied by or adjacent to an enemy Combat unit, then another
turn delay can be incurred and the arrival hex can be changed again
by up to three map-edge hexes. There is no limit as to how long
reinforcing units can be delayed in this manner.
Note: In the case of scenarios where a die roll is needed to make
units eligible to bring on as Reinforcements for the next Game Turn,
the above procedure only applies to units that actually qualify to
enter the game (i.e., they already “made” their die roll to enter).
EXAMPLE: Prussian units are scheduled to arrive at hex #1429
on the 12:00 pm Game Turn and the French have a force in hex
#1428, the Prussian player may elect to delay the arrival of these
units until the 1:00 pm turn. He could then bring them on either
at hex #1729 (entering units at #1629, #1729 and/or #1829) or
 At Any Cost: Metz
even #1129 (entering units at #1029, #1129 and/or #1229). If he
chose #1729 and there were then French units in or adjacent to
that hex, he could delay the arrival another full game turn and
have his units arrive at 2:00 pm at hex #2029 (entering at #1929,
#2029 and/or #2129).
11.11 Overrun HQ Units
Should a lone HQ find itself adjacent to an enemy
Combat unit at the conclusion of the enemy’s move
(i.e., after any Defensive Fire), the HQ is Overrun.
Simply pick up the HQ and stack it with the nearest
friendly unit. An HQ so displaced has a “0” Command Rating for
the remainder of this turn (place an “HQ Overrun” marker on the
counter as a reminder). The HQ returns to normal at the end of the
turn—remove the marker during the Housekeeping Step.
12.0 ASSAULT COMBAT
12.1 Assault Combat Eligibility
Assault Combat normally occurs during the Assault Combat Step
and is completely voluntary. It can be conducted by all eligible
units in hexes adjacent to an enemy target hex. Only units under
an Aggressive (A) Posture or as allowed by a specific Event Chit
or OOC marker may conduct an Assault Combat. Artillery units
may never use Assault Combat. Lone HQs may not conduct, or
be the target of, an Assault Combat. Cavalry Charges result in a
mandatory Assault Combat. Note that Cavalry units may Assault
normally—they are not required to conduct a Charge Move.
Note: Be aware that units which issued Fire Combat earlier in
the turn can still conduct an Assault Combat later in the turn if
otherwise eligible to do so. Laying down fire on the enemy to first
“soften them up” is part of the tactics of the era.
12.2 Assault Combat Procedure
At the start of the Assault Combat Step, the active
player announces all units that are assaulting an adja-
cent, targeted enemy hex and marks them with an
“Assault” marker, pointing the marker at the assaulted
hex. These marked units are now committed to attacking the indi-
cated target hex. The active player then resolves each separate Assault
Combat in any order desired. He first selects the Lead Assault Hex,
which can be any one of the hexes containing one or more assaulting
units (exception: a hex containing a Charging Cavalry unit must be
the Lead Assault Hex). The other assaulting hexes, if any, are Support
Assault Hexes. The attacked hex is called the Defending Hex.
The player adds together all the adjusted SPs (12.4) of the unit(s)
in the Lead Assault Hex (only) and then subtracts the total SPs of
all the unit(s) in the Defending Hex. This will produce the Assault
Differential (AD), which can be negative. Locate the column that
contains the calculated AD on the Assault Combat Results Table
(ACRT). Then check the listed column shift adjustments (12.5) to
see if any of the situations apply. If so, shift the AD column to the
left or right as indicated. Then finally roll 1d10 and cross reference
the die roll result with the net AD column to get the combat’s result.
Note: Take special note that the Assault Differential is calculated
only between the attacking units in the Lead Assault Hex and the
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
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target units in the Defending Hex. The attacking units in the Sup-
port Assault Hexes are used only to figure any column shifts for
total “odds” (12.5a) and to identify units eligible to create a Flank
Attack (12.6) and conduct a Breakthrough Move (12.9).
12.3 Abandoning Position
In some cases, defending units who are the target of an Assault
Combat may opt to retire and abandon their position before the
combat is resolved. These situations are as follows:
a. Cavalry Withdrawal Before Combat: A defending cavalry
unit, assaulted by infantry units only or by other cavalry units that
are all of a heavier Weight Class than it (this includes units in both
the Lead Assault and Support Assault Hexes), may opt to Retreat
Move one or two hexes (12.8) rather than stand for the combat.
This option is still available if the eligible cavalry unit is part of a
mixed-type stack. All other rules apply normally. However, if the
defending cavalry unit elects to Countercharge (11.7) or Opportu-
nity Charge (11.8), it then foregoes the Cavalry Withdrawal option
and the Assault Combat must be fought to conclusion.
b. Infantry and/or Artillery Withdrawal Before Combat: These
types of units may also opt to Retreat Move one hex before an Assault
Combat is resolved, but by doing so one Retreating unit (the largest
SP unit, owning player’s choice if more than one unit is eligible)
must first take one Morale Hit (9.2), applied normally. After applying
the hit, units in the hex may be retreated per the regular Retreat rule
parameters (12.8). However, if these units are being assaulted by
any Charging Cavalry unit (even if only a part of all the assaulting
units), then the Abandoning Position option is not available and the
targeted units must remain in the Defensive Hex.
In all cases where the defending units leave the Defending Hex
vacant due to exercising the Abandoning Position option, the attack-
ing units may conduct a normal Breakthrough Movement (12.9).
12.4 Assault Combat SP Adjustment
Attacking and defending units use their modified SP values for the
Assault Differential calculation. In addition to the normal SP modi-
fications, the following SP adjustments are also made if applicable:
• Cavalry Charge Weight Bonus—11.6.1
• Artillery and Mitrailleuse unit SPs are halved when defending
in Assault Combat.
Note: Artillery and Mitrailleuse units caught in melee combat are
under an extreme disadvantage. Keep them protected.
12.5 Assault Differential Column Shifts
The initial Assault Differential Column may be shifted to the left
or right depending on various applicable conditions. These shifts
are cumulative and all shifts are calculated together to achieve one
net total shift before referencing the ACRT. Possible column shifts
are detailed as follows:
a. SP Odds Adjustment: For purposes of determining this column
shift only, total the modified SPs of all assaulting units (i.e. the
attacking units in both the Lead and Support Assault Hexes)
and compare this sum to the total modified Defending Unit
SPs. Express these totals as a ratio (ex: 2 to 1, etc.). If the ratio
of Attacking SPs to Defending SPs is:
18 At Any Cost: Metz
• 3:1 and more = apply three column shifts right
• 2:1 = apply two column shifts right
• 3:2 = apply one column shift right
• 1:2 = apply one column shift left
• 1:3 and less = apply two column shifts left
b. Prussian Infantry units are attacking = one column shift right
c. Lead Assault Hex is a Ravine or Forested Ravine terrain hex =
three column shifts left
d. Lead Assault Hex is a Stream or Forested Stream terrain hex =
two column shifts left
e. Lead Assault Hex attacking from a River Bridge hex = two
column shifts left
Note: In the case of multiple terrain types in the Lead Assault Hex,
use only the single most detrimental shift to the attacking unit.
f. Lead Assault Hex attacking through a Slope hexside from a
lower elevation to a higher elevation = two column shifts left.
Note that this includes a Charging Cavalry unit that crossed up
one or more Slope hex sides at anytime during its Charge Move
(but this shift is only applied once).
g. Lead Assault Hex attacking through a Steep Slope hexside as
above = three column shifts left.
h. Attacking units conduct Flank Attack (12.6) = Two column shifts
right
i. Attacker has an Auftragstaktik Event Chit played = two column
shifts right
j. Attacker has a Furia Francese Event Chit played = one column
shift right
k. Attacker has a Battlefield Conditions Event Chit played = two
column shift right
l. If any Lead Assault Hex unit has a higher TCR than the best
Defending unit = one column shift right
m. If any Defending unit has a higher TCR than the best Lead
Assault Hex unit = one column shift left
n. Any defending infantry or artillery unit in Entrenchments = two
column shifts left
o. Any defending infantry or artillery unit in Hasty Works hex =
one column shift left
p. Any defending infantry unit in Town terrain hex = three column
shifts left
q. Any defending infantry unit in Farm or Quarry terrain hex =
two column shifts left
r. Any defending infantry unit in Forest terrain hex = one column
shift left
s. Any defending unit in River Bridge terrain hex = two columns
shift left
Note: In the case of multiple terrain types in the defending hex, use
only the single most beneficial shift to the defending unit.
t. Defending unit has a Battlefield Conditions Event Chit played
= two column shift left
12.6 Flank Attack
If any two Assaulting hexes (Lead Assault Hex and/or Support
Assault Hexes) are not adjacent to each other, or—if there are three
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
or more total Assaulting hexes attacking—the Assault Combat
receives the Flank Attack column shift modifier.
12.7 Assault Combat Results
After cross referencing the die roll result with the net Assault Dif-
ferential column on the ACRT, apply the result indicated in the box
to the affected unit(s). The letter indicates the Loser of the combat
(A = Attacker Loses; D = Defender Loses). The number following
the letter indicates the amount of Loss Points that must be applied
to the Loser (exception, see Special Results). Only units in the Lead
Assault Hex and Defending Hex can be affected by the Loss Points.
12.7.1 Loss Point Results: For each Loss Point in the given result,
the affected player must apply one or more of the eligible effects
to the Losing units. Each result can be applied multiple times, as
often as the owning player wishes, or in any combination of results
as long as the total Loss Points is applied. One Loss Point can be
applied as:
a. Retreat all losing units one hex.
b. Apply one Morale Hit.
c. Apply one Casualty Hit.
All Loss Points must be applied if at all possible. If there are two
units in an affected Losing hex(s), the largest printed SP unit must
be assigned at least one Loss Point before the smaller unit is as-
signed Loss Points.
EXAMPLE: A “D2” result against a Defending Hex containing two
units could be applied in some of the following ways:
• Retreat both defending units two hexes each
• Retreat both defending units one hex each and apply 1 Morale
Hit on the larger SP unit
• Retreat both defending units one hex each and apply 1 Casualty
Hit on the larger SP unit
• Apply one Morale Hit on the largest SP unit and one Casualty
Hit on the other unit (and both units remain in the hex)
There are even more possible combinations. Also note that one
Loss Point applied for a Retreat effect applies to all losing units
retreating one hex each.
12.7.2 Special Results: Some results require a special procedure
to be followed:
a. x* = If the result is asterisked (*), the Losing unit must take at
least one Casualty Hit as part of the Loss Point application.
b. x (x) = The first listed letter (A or D) is the Losing unit of
the combat. The Losing side applies the Loss Point normally.
However, if the Losing unit does not choose a Retreat option,
then the Winning side must also apply one Loss Point normally.
Note: This result simulates a tenacious unit standing its ground
and thus, by doing so, turns the tide on the enemy unit.
12.7.3 Tough Fight: All units in the Lead Assault Hex and the
Defending Hex (only) take a Special Cohesion Test. Each player
rolls 1d10 and compares the result to the highest modified TCR
unit for his side. Artillery units (only) reduce their TCR by half for
purposes of this test (only).
• If the die roll result is less than or equal to the highest modified
 At Any Cost: Metz
TCR, that side Passes. The largest SP enemy unit in the Lead
Assault Hex or Defending Hex must then take a Casualty Hit
(owning player’s choice of unit if tied).
• If the die roll result is greater than the highest modified TCR, that
side Fails. Each unit in that side’s Lead Assault Hex or Defending
Hex must each apply a Morale Hit on itself. There is no limit to
how many total Morale Hits can be inflicted on a given side in
this manner.
• Some extreme results on the table are not automatically “Tough
Fight” results. These split results require another die roll and the
die roll result as indicated determines if the Assault Combat result
is actually a “Tough Fight” or the other indicated result instead.
The above effects are cumulative. There is no Retreat conducted
nor is any Breakthrough Movement (12.9) allowed by either side
(even if all units of one side are eliminated).
12.8 Retreats
Retreats are conducted in number of hexes—not Movement Points.
The terrain MP cost of hexes retreated through is ignored but cannot
be an impassable hex. Retreats are conducted by the owning player
and follow this order of priority:
a. The unit must increase the distance between itself and the
victorious enemy unit(s) (during Assault Combat) or the nearest
enemy unit (in all other cases).
b. The unit should avoid moving through a hex containing another
friendly unit that would cause over-stacking, if at all possible. If
it cannot avoid such a hex, it must continue to Retreat through
and past that over-stacked hex and end its Retreat in the next
available legal hex.
c. The unit must move closer to its HQ, if at all possible.
If the Retreat move forces the unit to move off the map or move
through an enemy-occupied hex, it is immediately Broken (10.2),
regardless of its actual current condition.
Note: Remember that if the Retreating unit moves adjacent to any
enemy unit(s), that enemy unit(s) may issue Defensive Fire (11.4).
12.9 Breakthrough Movement
Only Assaulting units can conduct Breakthrough Movement. If
the Defending unit(s) in an Assault Combat vacates the hex for
any reason, one or more attacking units (up to the stacking limit
and from either type of Assaulting Hex) that are not Shaken or
Disrupted may advance into the vacated Defending Hex. Infantry
and non-Charging Cavalry units can only advance into the vacated
hex itself. Charging Cavalry units must enter the vacated hex and
then may advance one hex further into an adjacent vacant hex
(regardless of MP cost). But the new hex must maintain or reduce
the distance to a Losing enemy unit or, if that unit was Broken in
the Assault Combat, to the nearest enemy unit. Units conducting
Breakthrough Movement are not subject to Defensive Fire (11.4).
Note: Remember that Charging Cavalry is only given their Charge
Disorganization Morale Hit (11.6.2) at the conclusion of its Break-
through Movement.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
19
12.10 HQs and Assault Combat
An HQ stacked with another friendly unit does not take part in
Assault Combat. The HQ may Retreat and Breakthrough with
that unit, but it cannot take Morale or Casualty Hits. Should a lone
HQ find itself adjacent to an enemy Combat unit at the end of the
enemy unit’s movement, the HQ is Overrun. Simply pick up the
HQ counter and stack it with the nearest friendly unit. An HQ so
displaced has a “0” Command Rating for the remainder of this turn
(place an “HQ Overrun” marker on the unit as a reminder). The
HQ returns to normal at the end of the turn. Remove the marker
during the Housekeeping Step.
13.0 RALLY
13.1 Rally Procedure
During the Rally Step, the active player may perform Recovery
and Rebuilding actions if the active formation is under a Defensive
Posture. Recovery Actions are conducted first and then Rebuilding
attempts.
13.2 Recovery
The Recovery action represents officers attempting to get their
units back into fighting shape and reorganized. In game terms,
this entails a unit reducing its Morale Hits and/or Ammo Problem
results by removing and/or flipping “Shaken”, “Disrupted”, “Low
Ammo” and “Rationed Ammo” markers.
13.2.1 Eligible Units: An eligible unit is a unit belonging to the
active HQ’s formation, within the current Command Range of its
HQ and not adjacent to an enemy Combat unit. An Overrun HQ
can only remove/flip markers from units stacked with it. Multiple
removals/flips can be made on the same unit.
13.2.2 Recovery Actions: A Recovery Action is one of the fol-
lowing:
a. Removing a “Shaken” marker.
b. Flipping a “Disrupted” marker over to its “Shaken” side.
c. Removing a “Low Ammo” marker.
d. Flipping a “Rationed Ammo” marker over to its “Low Ammo”
side.
Each such adjustment is one Recovery action and more than one
Recovery action can be conducted on the same unit (if enough
remain available—see below).
13.2.3 French Artillery: French “Division” and “Horse” Artillery
units can only have their “Ammo Problems” markers reduced
through Recovery if they are stacked with their respective HQ.
French “Corps” Artillery units may not have their “Ammo Prob-
lems” markers reduced through Recovery during any “Battle”
scenario (they may have them Recovered during some Overnight
Game Turns while playing a “Campaign” scenario only—18.6).
13.3 Rebuilding
The Rebuilding action represents the rallying and reforming of
units that have morally and/or physically collapsed and become
totally ineffective. In game terms, this is represented by allowing
players the chance to bring back Broken units from the “Available
20 At Any Cost: Metz
for Rebuild” Box. Players may attempt to bring back into play any
type of unit (except Infantry Detachments—10.2 and 17.0) from the
“Available for Rebuild” Box as long as the eligible unit belongs to
the active HQ’s formation and the HQ doing the Rebuild attempt
is not adjacent to an enemy Combat unit.
A separate Rebuild attempt may be made for each eligible unit in
the “Available for Rebuild” Box. The owning player attempts to
Rebuild eligible units by rolling 1d10 for each such unit. If the die
roll result is less than or equal to the Rebuilding unit’s Battleworn
TCR, the Broken unit may be placed back on the map on its BW
side. The Rebuilt unit is stacked with, or placed adjacent to, its
corresponding HQ, but not adjacent to an enemy Combat unit or
over-stacked. If there are no eligible hexes to place a Rebuilt unit,
no Rebuild attempt can be made. If the roll is greater than the Bat-
tleworn TCR, the unit attempting the Rebuild must remain in the
“Available for Rebuild” Box. Only one Rebuild attempt die roll
may be made per unit with each activation.
13.4 Number of Allowed Rally Actions
The active player may only conduct a number of Rally actions
(Recovery and/or Rebuilding actions) on eligible units up to the
value of the Command Rating of the active HQ. In the case of
Rebuilding actions, each roll of the die is an action, whether it is
successful or not.
EXAMPLE: If Canrobert’s French VI Corps HQ is on its “D”
Posture side and is conducting Rally actions, it could perform the
following combination of actions on eligible units:
1) Remove a “Rationed Ammo” marker from one unit(using two
Recovery actions) and flip a “Disrupted” marker to “Shaken” on
another unit (for the third Recovery action)if both are within the
HQ’s “3” Command Rating range;
2) Remove a “Shaken” marker from a unit within the Command
Range of the HQ (one Recovery action) and then attempt to Rebuild
two units from the Available to Rebuild box (two Rebuild actions).
14.0 OUT OF COMMAND STEP
14.1 Out of Command (OOC) Units
Units with an “Out of Command” marker are treated
essentially as if they are in an Out of Command Pos-
ture. This means that these units ignore the regular
activation procedures for In Command units and will
instead operate after all In Command units have activated. During
the activation of In Command units, OOC units can do nothing.
14.2 Out of Command Procedures
After all In Command units have completed their Fire Combat,
Movement, Assault Combat and Rally Steps, the player will then
determine what each of his OOC units can do this phase. In any order
desired, he flips the OOC marker over to see what instructions are
on the marker. These instructions are then implemented by the active
player on a hex-by-hex basis, with all units in the OOC hex affected
accordingly. Resolve each hex’s activities and then do the same for
each remaining OOC hex (however, see Roadbound Units Excep-
tion - 7.5). After resolving all the OOC units return to the Chit Draw
Phase or, if no chits are in the cup, proceed to the End Turn Phase.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
14.3 Out of Command Results
On the back of each of the thirteen OOC markers is a result which
represents the initiative taken by the local officers, absent any direct
orders from higher up in the chain of command. Each of these is
implemented for all OOC units in that hex as follows:
a. Withdraw (one marker): Apply one of two
possible results:
• If there is an enemy unit within four hexes of the
OOC unit (no LOS is required): The OOC unit may not conduct
any combat and must move two hexes directly away from the
nearest enemy unit (measured in number of hexes, ignoring
terrain MP costs) and two hexes closer to its HQ. This can be to
any hex as long as each newly-entered hex meets both criteria. If
that’s not possible, then the hex must at least be one hex further
away from the nearest enemy unit. If there is more than one
“nearest enemy unit”, the enemy (non-moving) player chooses
which enemy unit to use. If no hex can be entered without over-
stacking, the withdrawing unit must move one additional hex
until it reaches a legal hex. The unit may not Engage and no
other activities can be conducted.
• If there is no enemy unit within four hexes of the OOC unit:
Apply this marker as a “Frozen” chit (see below).
b. Frozen (three markers): The unit may not conduct
any activities.
c. Cautious (four markers):
• An infantry unit may issue Fire Combat with half
its normal SPs and may then move normally up to
half its normal Movement Allowance, but may not
Engage.
• An artillery unit may either issue Fire Combat with half its normal
SPs or move with up to half its normal Movement Allowance
(not both) and may not Engage.
• A cavalry unit may move normally up to half its  Movement
Allowance and may even conduct an eligible Cavalry Charge
and Assault Combat.
Roadbound: Any units that stay on a Road (starting, moving
along and ending their turn only on Road hexes) may opt instead
to move their full Movement Allowance but reduced by 1 MP
(minimum 1 MP) and may even use the Road March Column
rate on Major Roads. However, no other activities other than
movement along a Road are allowed if this option is chosen.
d. Maneuver (four markers): The unit may only
move normally up to its full Movement Allowance
but may not Engage. It may use the Road March
Column rate on Major Roads. No other activities
can be conducted.
e. Advance (one marker): Apply one of two possible results:
• If there is an enemy unit within four hexes of the
OOC unit (no LOS is required):
◊ An Infantry unit must issue Fire Combat (if
eligible) at the nearest enemy unit. If there is
more than one “nearest enemy unit”, the enemy (non-moving)
player chooses which enemy unit to affect. The infantry unit
must then move as close as possible to that same enemy unit
 At Any Cost: Metz
(using normal movement procedures) and attempt to engage
it in Assault Combat (if eligible).
◊ A Cavalry unit must attempt to Charge the nearest enemy unit
if eligible and if not, must move (using normal movement
procedures) and attempt to engage that same enemy unit in
Assault Combat. If there is more than one “nearest enemy
unit”, the enemy (non-moving) player chooses which enemy
unit to affect. Otherwise, it must move as close as possible to
that nearest enemy.
◊ An Artillery unit may not move and must issue Fire Combat
at nearest eligible enemy unit.
• If there is no enemy unit within four hexes of the OOC unit:
Apply this marker as a “Cautious” chit (see above).
Note: OOC units can never Rally or Build Earthworks.
15.0 THE END TURN PHASE
After the last chit from the cup has been drawn, both players check
to see if there are any held Unique Events that they wish to play
(Prussian first) and if so, they do so. Then proceed to the End Turn
Phase.
15.1 Resolve French Command Events
The French player consults the French Command Events Tracks for
this scenario (if any) and resolves any outstanding issues resulting
from Command Event Chits being played there. Immediately apply
any results stemming from this resolution.
15.2 Resolve Prussian Command Events
The Prussian player consults the Prussian Command Events Tracks
for this scenario (if any) and resolves any outstanding issues result-
ing from Command Event Chits being played there. Immediately
apply any results stemming from this resolution.
15.3 Victory Determination Step
Players determine if either side has achieved an Automatic Victory
per the conditions for the scenario being played. If no Automatic
Victory is achieved, play continues to the next Game Turn unless
this is the final Game Turn of the scenario. If so, players determine
the results of the game (19.0).
15.4 Housekeeping
All Activation and Event Chits are returned to the
owning player (this includes unused Event Chits and
all those that were placed on a track as a Command
Event). Remove all markers that are no longer needed.
Move any units currently in the “Eliminated Units” Box to the
“Available to Rebuild” Box. Then advance the “Game Turn” mark-
er one space.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
21
16.0 EARTHWORKS
16.1 Types of Earthworks
There are two types of Earthworks represented in the game:
• Hasty Works (16.2)
• Entrenchments (16.3)
16.2 Hasty Works
These are ad hoc structures and barriers which can
be constructed during any scenario.
All units in a hex with a “Hasty Works” marker receive a one col-
umn shift left when a target of Fire Combat or when defending in
Assault Combat and increase their TCRs by one for all cases. An
active infantry unit (only) may attempt to build a “Hasty Works”
marker in the hex it occupies if it meets the following conditions:
• It must be in a formation with a Defensive Posture.
• It did not issue Fire Combat during the preceding Fire Combat Step.
• It did not conduct Movement during the preceding Movement
Step.
• It did not participate in any Assault Combat during the preceding
Assault Combat Step.
• It did not participate in a Recovery or Rebuilding action during
the current Rally Step.
If the unit meets all requirements, the owning player rolls 1d10
at the end of the Rally Step and compares the die roll result to
the unit’s TCR. Reduce the die roll result by one if the unit is in
or adjacent to a Forest, Forested Stream, Forested Ravine, Farm,
Quarry or Town hex.
If the roll is less than or equal to the TCR, the player places a
“Hasty Works” marker in the hex. If the die roll result is greater
than the modified TCR, the unit does not succeed and may not
place a marker.
16.3 Entrenchments
These are more complex structures and represent dug-
in positions. They can only be built during Evening
and/or Deep Night Game Turns (18.0) of the “Cam-
paign” scenarios.
All units in a hex with an “Entrenchment” marker receive a two
column shift left when a target of Fire Combat or when defending
in Assault Combat and increase their TCRs by two for all cases.
An existing “Hasty Works” marker may be improved to an “En-
trenchments” marker by following the same procedure as for
building the Hasty Works (above), except that this can only be
attempted during an Evening or Deep Night Game Turn (18.0). A
unit may not build a Hasty Work and improve it to an Entrenchment
in the same Phase.
16.4 Earthworks Duration
16.4.1 “Hasty Works” markers remain in the hex in which they
are built until the moment an enemy Combat unit enters that hex.
As soon as an enemy unit enters such a hex, remove the marker
and place it back in the available pool of markers.
16.4.2 “Entrenchment” markers remain in the hex in which they
22 At Any Cost: Metz
are built and cannot be destroyed. They are used by any occupying
unit, regardless of which side built the marker originally.
16.5 French VI Corps Restrictions
Units of Canrobert’s VI Corps have their TCRs tem-
porarily reduced by two when attempting to build
Hasty Works (only). In addition, units from this for-
mation can never build Entrenchments.
HISTORICAL NOTE: All the VI Corp’s entrenching equipment
was left behind at Chalons during their rather hurried deployment
to the front.
17.0 UNIT BREAKDOWN
Each Corps formation can break down its infantry brigades into
smaller Infantry Detachments. Infantry Detachments are identified
by their letter code and Corps affiliation and may only be used
by units of that same Corps. If a player wishes to break down a
unit, he is restricted to the number and denomination of Infantry
Detachments available for that particular Corps. Note that you
can use either side of the Detachment counter to get the number
of SPs you need as the Detachment counters only have BW sides.
Note also that the Prussian player has more Breakdown options (as
more Infantry Detachments are available to use). Unit Breakdown
occurs at the start of a unit’s Movement Step (before any movement
occurs) but does not cost any additional MPs (11.0).
17.1 Infantry Detachment Breakdowns
Each player may break down any non-Shaken,
non-Disrupted Fresh infantry brigade (termed the
“parent” unit) into smaller Infantry Detachments be-
fore it conducts any movement during the Movement
Step. The size and/or number of Infantry Detachments are limited
by the current SPs of the parent unit and by the counter mix for the
parent unit’s Corps. The player may not exceed the parent unit’s
starting SP total, but he may break down into any number of In-
fantry Detachments that total within that SP limit. Remove the
parent unit from the game and replace it with the requisite number
of Infantry Detachments. These new Infantry Detachments must
meet normal Stacking Limits and may then conduct regular move-
ment this step. A player may even break down more than one
parent unit if there are enough Infantry Detachment counters
available.
17.2 Parent Unit Markers
If the parent unit has a “Low Ammo” or “Rationed Ammo” marker,
each Infantry Detachment generated from that parent unit also gets
an identical marker.
Remember: A parent unit may not be Shaken or Disrupted when it
elects to Breakdown nor may it be on its Battleworn side.
17.3 Recombining Infantry Detachments
Infantry Detachments from the same Corps that are stacked together
at the start of the active player’s Movement Step may be recombined
back into a brigade-sized unit, within the following constraints:
a. The new recombined brigade must be from the same Corps as
the Infantry Detachments and must have been a parent unit that
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
was previously used to create these units (though not necessarily
the exact same ones which are now recombining).
b. The new unit may not have an SP total greater than the sum of
the recombining Infantry Detachments. This will affect the side
on which the new units will be deployed (Fresh or Battleworn).
c. If any of the Infantry Detachments have a Morale Hit and/or
Ammo Problems marker, then the new brigade must also have
those same markers. If more than one marker of any type is
present, then apply only the worst one (for example, if both a
“Shaken” and a “Disrupted” marker is present; the new unit is
given the “Disrupted” marker).
When recombined, remove the Infantry Detachments from the
map and place the new brigade in that hex. The new unit may then
conduct normal movement during this step.
18.0 OVERNIGHT GAME TURNS
During the two “Campaign” scenarios, gameplay can continue
throughout the night time hours and then into the next day. There
are four different types of Overnight Game Turns and each has
special rules that pertain to play.
18.1 Dusk
Dusk occurs during the 9:00 pm Game Turn. Line of Sight is re-
duced to a maximum of one hex (i.e., to an adjacent hex). Units not
using Road movement must double the regular Terrain Movement
Cost (11.2) of other hexes moved through. Units moving along Road
hexes apply regular Road Movement costs (including allowing the
use of Road March Column if otherwise eligible). All units’ TCR’s
are reduced by one.
18.2 Evening
Evening occurs during the 10:00 pm – 12:00 am Game
Turn. No Event or Fortunes of War Chits are used—
place only Activation and CIC Chits into the draw cup.
No Engagement, Combat or Rally is allowed—units
may only move or build Earthworks. Units not using Road Move-
ment must double the normal Terrain Movement Costs (11.2) of
any non-Road hexes entered. Units may attempt to build Hasty
Works or Entrenchments (16.0). Any formation may enter Bivouac
(18.6) and conduct eligible Bivouac activities. Units that do any
movement at all or attempt Entrenchment are each given a Morale
Hit (applied normally) at the end of their move or Entrenching
attempt. At the conclusion of the turn, move the “Campaign Day”
marker up to the next Campaign Day box. Parent units that were
removed due to breaking down into Infantry Detachments may be
placed into the Available for Rebuilding Box on their Battleworn
side at the start of the Game Turn if the player first removes those
component Infantry Detachment units from the map (if any remain
on the map) that could have been created by this parent unit.
18.3 Deep Night
Deep Night occurs during the 1:00 am – 3:00 am Game Turn. No
Event or Fortunes of War chits are used—place only Activation and
CIC Chits into the draw cup. No Engagement, Combat or Rally is
allowed—units may only move or build Earthworks. Units not using
Road Movement must double the normal Terrain Movement Costs
 At Any Cost: Metz
(11.2) of any non-Road hexes entered. Units may attempt to build
Hasty Works or Entrenchments (16.0). Any formation may enter
Bivouac (18.6) and conduct eligible Bivouac activities. Units that
do not enter Bivouac during the Deep Night turn are each given a
Morale Hit (applied normally) at the end of their activation (even
if they don’t do anything else). Parent units that were removed due
to breaking down into Infantry Detachments may be placed into
the Available for Rebuilding Box on their Battleworn side at the
start of the Game Turn if the player first removes those component
Infantry Detachments from the map (if any remain on the map) that
could have been created by this parent unit.
18.4 Dawn
Dawn occurs during the 4:00 am Game Turn. Line of Sight is
reduced to a maximum of one hex (i.e., to an adjacent hex). Units
not using Road hex movement must double the regular Terrain
Movement Cost (11.2) of other hexes moved through. Units moving
along Road hexes apply regular Road Movement cost. All units’
TCR’s are reduced by one. French HQs must be re-activated for
the new day per the scenario instructions.
18.5 Lines of Communication
During the Overnight turns, it may be necessary to determine the
status of a unit’s strategic Line of Communications (LOC) if it
enters Bivouac status (18.6). This is a measure of the formation’s
accessibility to its army’s supply line, flow of replacements and
other logistical support. Determination of the LOC is different for
each side.
a. Prussian: An HQ that can trace its Command Range to any Road
hex, which then leads any distance to an eligible map edge hex, has
a viable LOC. This path cannot be traced through, or adjacent to,
an enemy Combat unit. The grade of the LOC depends on which
the map edge Road hex is used, as follows:
• Short LOC = South to Gorze (#2529/2729) or the Moselle
Crossings (#3729).
• Normal LOC = South to Buxieres (#1429).
• Extended LOC = West edge (#0125) or Southwest edge (#0128).
b. French: An HQ that can trace its Command Range to any Major
Road hex (only), which then leads any distance via Major Road
hexes (only) to an eligible map edge hex, has a viable LOC. This
path cannot be traced through, or adjacent to, an enemy Combat
unit. The grade of the LOC depends on the total distance traced to
either “To Metz” hex, #5210 or #5216 , as follows:
• Short LOC = from hexrow #3300 or greater.
• Normal LOC = from between hexrow #3200 and hex row #1700
(inclusive).
• Extended LOC = from hexrow #1600 or less.
The grade of the LOC (if any) has a modifying effect when rolling
for Bivouac activities (see below).
18.6 Bivouac
During the Evening and Deep Night Game Turns (only), players
may place an activated formation into Bivouac status (even if some
of its units moved or attempted to build Earthworks). Bivouac status
represents a special night time Rally—the units are setting up camp
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
23
and by so doing attempting to improve their condition should they
have any Morale Hits, Ammo Problems, Leader Casualty markers
and/or be Battleworn. In order to be considered in Bivouac status,
a formation must be placed under Defensive Posture.
If a formation is placed in Bivouac, turn the HQ unit sideways as
a reminder. Every unit of the formation that did not conduct any
movement or attempt to build Earthworks this phase may then
conduct Revive, Muster, Supply and Leader Recovery activities
during the Rally Step. In each case, the owning player rolls 1d10
and compares it to the modified TCR of the unit in Bivouac. Apply
the following modifiers to this die result:
• Add one to the die roll result if the unit is not within Command
Range of its HQ or its HQ has no LOC at all (18.5).
• Add one to the die roll result if the unit is three or fewer hexes
from an enemy Combat unit (yes, it may be adjacent to an enemy
unit).
• Subtract one from the die roll result if the unit is within Command
Range of its HQ that has a Normal LOC.
• Subtract two from the die roll result if within Command Range
of its HQ that has a Short LOC.
If the net die roll result is less than the TCR of the unit, the unit will
Pass. If the net die roll result is the same as the TCR, it is Equal.
If the net die roll result is greater than the TCR, the unit will Fail.
a. Revive: Shaken and Disrupted units may roll 1d10 to attempt to
remove or downgrade the marker. Compare the net die roll result
to the unit’s modified TCR and apply as follows:
• Pass = Rested: Remove the marker (of either type) from the unit.
• Equal = Upgrade: A “Shaken” marker is removed; a “Disrupted”
marker is flipped to “Shaken”.
• Fail = Unchanged: The unit keeps its current marker.
Note: This procedure is different than the normal Rally action that
can be conducted during daylight turns.
b. Muster: Battleworn units may now roll 1d10 to attempt to flip
to their Fresh sides (even if they already rolled to Revive). Com-
pare the net die roll result to the unit’s modified TCR and apply
as follows:
• Pass = Refit: Flip the unit to its Fresh side. If this causes an
over-stacked hex situation, the flipped unit must be immediately
displaced to an adjacent, eligible hex that is no closer to an enemy
Combat unit.
• Equal = Unchanged: The unit remains BW.
• Fail = Broken: The unit is removed from play and placed in the
Eliminated Units Box (10.2).
c. Supply: Units with an Ammo Problems marker may roll 1d10 to
attempt to remove or downgrade the marker (even if they already
rolled to Revive and/or Muster). Compare the net die roll result
to the unit’s modified TCR and apply as follows:
• Pass = Rearm: Remove the marker (of either type) from the unit.
• Equal = Upgrade: A “Low Ammo” marker is removed; a
“Rationed Ammo” marker is flipped to “Low Ammo”.
• Fail = Unchanged: The unit keeps its current marker.
24 At Any Cost: Metz
Attempting to Supply is the only time that French Corps Artillery
units may remove or alter such an “Ammo Problems” marker
(13.2.3).
d. Leader Recovery: If the HQ is carrying a “Leader Casualty”
marker, the marker may be removed by rolling one die and achiev-
ing a die roll result of 1–5.
Note: Units may roll on each section of the table in the same turn
as long as they are otherwise qualified. Also note that a unit can
be in Bivouac in two consecutive turns, once during Evening and
once again during Deep Night.
EXAMPLE: A Shaken BW unit with a “Rationed Ammo” marker
may first make a Revive roll to remove the “Shaken” marker, then
a Muster roll to flip to its FR side and then finally a Supply roll to
remove the “Rationed Ammo” marker. All results are cumulative.
e. Leaving Bivouac: Units must leave Bivouac status at the start of
the Dawn Game Turn. Prussian units may then function normally
and French units are subject to the French Morning Deployment
procedure for the scenario.
f. Ineligible Units: Units of the Bivouaced formation that moved or
attempted to build Earthworks may not make any Bivouac die rolls.
19.0 VICTORY DETERMINATION
Each of the game’s scenarios has its own Victory Conditions as
detailed in that section (20.0).
19.1 Small Battles
The “Small Battle” scenarios have simple Town-hex occupation
conditions. The side which controls the most eligible Town hexes
will win the game.
19.2 Regular Battles
The “Battle” scenarios will list each side’s Automatic Victory
Condition, which if achieved by that side ends the game during the
subsequent End Turn Phase in a victory for the side fulfilling the
condition. If an Automatic Victory is not achieved, both sides will
have Mandatory Conditions that must be met to have a chance to
win the scenario. These are locations that must be controlled by that
side, regardless of other circumstances (other than an Automatic
Victory). Control of hexes is determined by the nationality of the
last unit to enter the hex or hexes in question (use the appropriate
“Control” markers provided to help note ownership when unclear).
If the Mandatory Conditions are not met, that side cannot win the
game. If they are met, then proceed to the Victory Determination
Conditions. The Victory Determination Conditions is a list of hexes
that can be controlled by either side. The side controlling the greater
number of those hexes wins the game (note that there cannot be a
tie because of the odd number of eligible hexes).
19.3 Campaigns
The “Campaign” scenarios determine their winner by how many
Victory Points the French player (only) can score over the course of
the campaign days. Both sides also have an Automatic Loss condi-
tion which, if reached, will lose the game for that side immediately.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMPLE OF PLAY
Starting Positions.
The French player (Pierre) has successfully captured the key town
of Flavigny with elements of his II Corps. Pierre has Verge’s entire
Division in the vicinity (two infantry brigades and its artillery/
Mitrailleuse batteries), supported by the Battleworn II Corps
Artillery, the 1st Medium Cavalry brigade of the 3rd Reserve
Cavalry Division and a rather brave, isolated brigade of Guard
Voltigeurs (2/Del/IG) from the Imperial Guard Corps. These units
are trying desperately to hold on to Flavigny as the Prussian play-
er (Wilhelm) plans his counter-attack. Wilhlem has assembled a
respectable force, drawing available units from Alvensleben’s III
Corps, along with the 15th Light Cavalry Brigade from the 6th
Cavalry Division to help out and a brigade from X Corps.
During the Planning Phase, Wilhelm elects to place a Krupp’s Guns
Event chit into the cup as his Planned Event and Pierre places his
Battlefield Conditions chit as his Planned Event. They both then
mix up the remaining Event chits and place the appropriate number
into the draw cup. Added to this is the Fortunes of War chit, the
Prussian CIC chit (the French CIC chit did not make it into the cup
this turn) and the necessary Activation Chits for all the formations
on the entire map.
The first chit drawn is a Beaten Zone Event chit and
Pierre decides to hold it, anticipating an attack on
Flavigny later in the turn. The next chit drawn is the
Prussian X Corps Activation chit and Wilhelm con-
ducts his actions with units of that corps elsewhere on the map.
The 39/KrKo/X brigade is part of X Corps but is currently Out of
Command. Pierre draws an OOC marker and places it on the bri-
gade’s hex facedown. At the end of the activation of In Command
X Corps units, Wilhelm turns over the OOC marker and sees that
it says “Cautious”. This allows half movement for the unit and he
decides to break down the brigade into two smaller Infantry De-
tachments in order to infiltrate the gap in the French lines. He re-
moves the 39/KrKo/X unit from the map and places it aside, re-
placing it with two X Corps Infantry Detachment units—the 4-5
side of the “B” unit and the 2-5 side of the “A” unit. Both units can
then move, but only up to 2 MPs due to the OOC marker. The “B”
 At Any Cost: Metz
unit moves into Stream hex #1926 and the “A” unit moves into
Stream hex #1826 (thus using up all of their movement). This
finishes the activation of X Corps.
The Prussian Command Initiative Event chit is next out
of the cup and Wilhelm decides to use it as a Command
Event and places the chit on the Prussian Reinforce-
ments Track on the scenario card.
The next chit out is the French VI Corps Activation
chit and Pierre conducts his actions for that corps
elsewhere on the map.
The next chit drawn is another Beaten Zone chit and
this time Pierre decides to use the chit immediately to
issue Fire Combat with his Verge-Mit Mitrailleuse
unit at the Prussian 9/Stulp/III infantry unit in hex
#2227. He places the Beaten Zone chit aside and out of the game
for this turn and immediately calculates his fire. The range to the
Prussian unit is three hexes and thus at Extended Range. This halves
the Mitrailleuse’s strength to 2 SP and Pierre starts his fire calcu-
lation on the “2” column of the Fire Combat Table. Checking for
applicable column shifts, he sees that the only one that applies is
the “1Æ” for a Mitrailleuse firing and thus the fire will be resolved
on the “3” column of the FCRT. Note that the LOS is clear as the
firing unit is at Level 1 and the target is at Level 3 with no inter-
vening terrain that would block or obscure the LOS. Pierre rolls
two dice and consults only his red-colored die for the result. He
rolls a “7”, which is an “MT” result. This means that the Prussian
unit must take a Morale Test and the players immediately check
the simultaneously-rolled white-colored die’s result. That die shows
a “5”, which means the unit passes (since the 9/Stulp/III unit’s
TCR is “8”) and there is no further effect of the fire. Note that the
HQ is unaffected.
The French Inspirational Leadership Event chit comes
out of the cup next and Pierre decides to use it as a
Command Event on the Bazaine’s Leadership Track,
trying to make sure that if the Prussians get their Ba-
zaine’s Malaise Event chit this turn he has at least a chance of
cancelling it. Since there is no chit on that track yet, he places it in
the first box of the track.
Next, the Prussian Battlefield Conditions Event chit
is pulled and Wilhelm holds onto it. The Fortunes of
War chit is drawn next and Pierre rolls a die to see the
event’s effect. He rolls a “1”, which is Wayward French
Unit. Looking over the map, Wilhelm can move any French unit one
hex in any legal direction. He decides to move the Verge artillery
unit out of Flavigny (along with its Mitrailleuse counter, since they
are treated as one unit) and into hex #2124 (thus getting it out of the
town, into a stream and with a potentially obscured LOS).
The next chit pulled is indeed the Bazaine’s Malaise
Prussian Event chit! Wilhelm can’t wait to drop this
chit on the French II Corps HQ and freeze it this turn.
Wilhelm emits an evil laugh and places the chit direct-
ly onto the II Corps HQ unit (Frossard). The Bazaine’s Malaise chit
remains on the HQ until the II Corps Activation Chit is drawn, at
which point it will be determined whether it takes effect or not.
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
25
Situation after 39/KrKo/X Brigade broke into detachments, and the
Verge Artillery affected by “Wayward French Unit”.
Note that the French player does still have time to put more Com-
mand Event chits onto the Bazaine’s Leadership Track (should any
more French Event chits get pulled from the cup) before the II
Corps Activation Chit gets pulled.
Another chit is drawn and it is the Prussian 6th Cav-
alry Division Activation chit and thus all 6th Cavalry
Division units are active. The 6th Cavalry Division
HQ unit is placed on its Aggressive side but is far to
the west (off the example map) and thus the 15th Light Cavalry on
our map is given an “Out of Command” marker. After the In Com-
mand units perform their actions elsewhere, the OOC marker is
flipped over and yields an “Advance” result. Since there are enemy
units within 4 hexes of the cavalry unit, it must conduct a charge
against the nearest enemy unit. There are two qualified hexes, each
at a distance of three hexes away, and in this case Pierre gets to
select the hex that will be charged. He decides on 2/Del/IG as the
target since he wants to make sure nothing threatens his position
around Flavigny. Note also that the Prussian cavalry could not
charge the infantry in Flavigny as it may not charge into a Town
hex. Wilhelm therefore must announce a Cavalry Charge, rolls a
“4” on the die (compared to the cavalry’s TCR of “7”) and thus
succeeds in getting the cavalry to charge and places a “Cavalry
Charge” marker on the unit (note that if he had failed the charge
test, he would still have to move the cavalry adjacent to the enemy
unit and conduct a non-Charge Assault Combat) and moves the
15/6 cavalry into hex #2525. Pierre has the Beaten Zone chit in-hand
and could use it now but decides not to. The Prussian troopers
continue on to hex #2524 where they must stop as the 2/Del/IG
unit can now issue Defensive Fire. But before Pierre does that,
Wilhelm grabs his Battlefield Conditions chit and places it on the
map next to the combat and thus Pierre must apply a “Å2” shift to
his unit’s Defensive Fire (this simulates possibly the French Guards-
men not spotting the charging cavalry until the last minute due to
tactical folds in the ground, battlefield smoke, etc.). The range is
one hex, which is Effective Range, and the French unit has 4 SP.
He starts his fire on the “4” column of the FCRT and applies the
“1Æ” shift for French Infantry firing, the “3Æ” for firing at 50%+
cavalry and “Å2” for the Battlefield Conditions chit. This nets
out to a shift of “2Æ” and places the Defensive Fire on the “6-7”
26 At Any Cost: Metz
column. Pierre grabs his dice and rolls a red “4” for an MT+1 result.
Unfortunately for him, he also rolled a “4” on the white die, which
is not only a pass for the cavalry (“4” +1 = “5” and the cavalry’s
TCR is “7”) but the two dice are “doubles”! So not only does he
do no damage to the charging cavalry but the 2/Del/IG also gets a
“Low Ammo” marker. The cavalry remains in the hex and is given
an “Assault” marker pointing at the French unit.
Wilhelm proceeds with the resolution of Assault Combat. First, he
must figure out the Combat Differential. The assaulting cavalry
successfully charged, so its SP of “2” is increased by +1 (because
it is charging Light Cavalry) to “3”. The defending French infantry
has a SP of “4”, so the Combat Differential is “–1” (3 – 4 = –1). The
French Guardsmen have a TCR of “8” compared to the “7” of the
Prussian cavalry, so the defender has a better TCR and thus a “Å1”
column shift applies. The combat is therefore resolved on the “–2”
column of the ACRT. Wilhelm rolls one die (not two dice when
resolving Assault Combat) and rolls a “9”, which results in a “D2”.
The defending French unit loses and must apply two Loss Points.
Pierre decides to retreat the unit one hex (into hex #2522, which
is also closer to its off-map HQ) and it also takes one Morale Hit,
placing a “Shaken” marker on the unit (he wants to hold that bridge
the units is on). Note that Pierre could have opted to retreat the
unit two hexes or even had it take a Casualty Hit and a Morale Hit
to remain in the hex. The victorious Prussian cavalry must now
conduct Breakthrough movement (since it charged) and it moves
into hex #2523. Wilhelm then decides to advance the cavalry into
hex #2422 to block the road, which he may do because charging
cavalry may Breakthrough one additional hex as long as it reduces
or maintain the distance to the defeated enemy unit (which it does).
Note also that the 2/Del/IG unit cannot issue Defensive Fire at
the cavalry despite their moving adjacent to the infantry, as units
conducting Breakthrough Movement are not subject to Defensive
Fire. After the Breakthrough is finished, the 15/6 cavalry unit is
given a “Shaken” marker because it conducted a Cavalry Charge.
This ends the 6th Cavalry Division’s activation.
Situation after the charge of the Prussian 15/6 Cavalry unit.
The chit then drawn is the awaited French II Corps
Activation Chit. Pierre never got a chance to put an-
other Command Event chit (or two) onto the Bazaine’s
Leadership Track. He is obviously a bit disturbed by
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
this but then again, he is also thankful that he got at least one chit
onto the track. Pierre immediately gets to roll a die (since he has at
least one Command Event chit on the relevant track) and a result of
1, 2 or 3 will cancel the Prussian Bazaine’s Malaise chit. He rolls a
“4” and screams “Merde!” Wilhelm almost yelps out loud with joy,
but manages to control himself—the French II Corps has its entire
activation cancelled and it can do nothing with its Activation chit.
The next chit is picked from the cup and it is the
Prussian Krupp’s Guns Event chit. Wilhelm elects to
use the chit for an immediate Fire Combat by one of
his artillery units. The Stulp/III divisional artillery
unit in hex #2027 has its Line of Sight to Flavigny blocked by the
higher terrain level in hex #2127, so he doesn’t want to choose that
unit. Instead, he chooses the Corps/III unit with which to fire.
Wilhelm selects the French 1/Verge/II infantry unit in Flavigny as
its target, hoping to “loosen the enemy up” a bit for the attack. The
range is three hexes and therefore within the artillery’s Effective
Range. It will thus fire with 7 SPs (putting it on the “6-7” column
to start) and applies the following column shifts: “1Æ” for Prussian
artillery firing; “1Æ” for Plunging Fire (shooting from Level 3 to
Level 1) and “Å3” for the target unit being in a Town hex, for a
net “Å1” shift on the table. The combat is therefore resolved on
the “5” column. Wilhelm rolls two dice and the gray-colored die
is an “8”. This is an MT+2 result and the players then check the
simultaneously-rolled white die. This die is a “0”, which is modi-
fied to “12”. The TCR of the 1/Verge/II unit is only a “6” (and
therefore the die roll exceeds the TCR by 6) and the French unit is
given a “Disrupted” Morale Hit marker (i.e., two Morale Hits). A
devastating bombardment!
The French Battlefield Conditions Event chit comes
out of the cup next and Pierre immediately decides to
hold onto it as he anticipates a difficult fight at Flavi-
gny.
The next chit drawn is the Prussian III Corps Activation
chit—just what the Prussians needed! Wilhelm flips
the Alvenslaben III Corps HQ unit to its “A” (Aggres-
sive Posture) side and announces such to Pierre. He
then checks for which units are in command. With a Command
Range of “5”, all relevant units are In Command. He then conducts
his Fire Combat Step with all eligible III Corps units. Unfortunate-
ly, both Prussian infantry units are out of range of any French units
(their Extended Range is only two hexes). The Stulp/III division-
al artillery unit still has a blocked LOS to Flavigny and he does
not want to take a pot shot at the French Cavalry unit for fear of
rolling an Ammo Problems result. However, he does have an Ob-
scured LOS to the French Verge artillery unit in hex #2124 and
decides to take that shot (note that the LOS is not obscured by hex
#2127 but rather by firing over the enemy cavalry unit in hex #2125).
This is still in the Effective Range of the Prussian artillery so he
begins his shot on the “6-7” column of the FCRT, and then applies
the following column shifts: Prussian artillery firing is “1Æ”;
Plunging Fire is “1Æ”; Obscured LOS is “Å2”; Target is in a Stream
hex is “1Æ”. The net column shift is therefore “1Æ” and brings the
fire to the “8-9”column. Unbelievably, Wilhelm rolls a “1” for no
effect (and he glances at the white die, which reads “0”, and curs-
es his bad luck as that die will not be taken into account).
 At Any Cost: Metz
His other shot is a repeat of the Corps/III unit fire on the 1/Verge/
II infantry unit in Flavigny. The situation is unchanged and on
the “5” column Wilhelm rolls a “4”. This is an MT result and the
French unit in Flavigny must take a Morale Test. Its current TCR
is “4”—it’s printed value of “6” reduced by two for the “Disrupt-
ed” marker. Wilhelm checks the white die and it shows a result
of “9”—which is 5 greater that the unit’s modified TCR and thus
results in two Morale Hits again! Since the French unit is already
Disrupted, it cannot apply the Morale Hit with another marker. It
must instead apply the excess Morale Hits as Casualty Hits. The
first Casualty Hit flips the 1/Verge/II over to its Battleworn side,
keeping the “Disrupted” marker. The second Casualty Hit then
results in a Break Test (as the unit cannot take any more Morale
Hits or Casualty Hits). Pierre consults the Break Test Table and
rolls one die, comparing the result to the unit’s modified TCR.
The unit’s modified TCR is now only “2”—the printed value on
its BW side (“4”) less 2 for the “Disrupted” marker. Pierre rolls a
“2”, a very lucky result for sure! This is an Uneasy Pass result (the
die roll equals the modified TCR of the testing unit). This means
that though the unit passes it test, it must still retreat two hexes
because it is Disrupted. The units retreats to hex #2223 (fulfilling
the “move away from the enemy” and “toward its HQ” portion of
the retreat priorities) and then continues to increase the distance
from the firing unit by then moving into hex #2222.
Pierre curses (again) as Flavigny is now there for the taking! Wil-
helm places an “Artillery Fired” marker on the both Prussian artil-
lery units to remind him that he can’t move them in the upcoming
Movement Step. This completes the Fire Combat Step. The game
now continues to the Movement Step and Wilhelm considers his
options. Flavigny is indeed wide open, but just marching into the
town will be entering a cauldron of enemy firepower.
Situation after Prussian artillery fire.
He decides to be somewhat cautious and moves the 9/Stulp/III
infantry unit to hex #2226 and then #2225. As soon as he moves
adjacent to the French cavalry unit, that cavalry has the option to
Opportunity Charge the Prussian infantry. Pierre announces he
will attempt that charge but he then rolls an “8”, which is greater
than the “7” TCR of the 1Cav/3C unit and the charge attempt fails.
Wilhelm then moves the 10/Stulp/III infantry unit to hex #2326,
© 2017 GMT Games, LLC
27
heading for #2325. But Pierre yells “hold it!” when the unit enters
#2326 and produces his held Beaten Zone chit in order to issue
Opportunity Fire at the moving Prussian unit from the 2/Verge/II
French infantry unit in hex #2324. A Fire Combat is resolved im-
mediately with the French unit at a “4” SP as it is within Effective
Range. There are no column shifts other than the “1Æ” for being
French infantry firing. Pierre rolls his dice on the “5” column and
his red die reads “7”, which is an MT+2 result. To his ultimate joy,
his white die reads “6”, which is modified to an “8”. This equals
the TCR of the Prussian unit and causes it to become Shaken. By
doing so, the Prussians must halt their movement in hex #2326!
Pierre smiles broadly and then puts the Beaten Zone chit aside and
out of play for the turn.
Wilhelm is thus finished with the Movement Step and now moves
to the Assault Combat Step and announces an Assault Combat with
the 9/Stulp/III unit on the French cavalry unit. Pierre decides to
have the cavalry Abandon Position rather than fight and withdraws
it two hexes to hex #1924, where it can also help screen Vionville
from the advancing Prussian Infantry Detachments on the stream
to the south. The Prussians opt not to Breakthrough, preferring to
stay put and use Flavigny as an obstruction to other potential French
fire. This ends the Assault Combat Step.
There is no Rally Step (as the HQ is under Aggressive Posture) or
Out of Command Step (all units were In Command) this phase.
The next chit drawn is the Prussian CIC Chit and
Wilhelm can’t believe his good fortune. This allows
him to choose one Prussian division to activate and he
selects Stulpnagel’s division with which to do so. This
activates the 9/Stulp/III and 10/Stulp/III infantry units, along with
the Stulp/III artillery unit.
Wilhelm keeps the HQ unit under an Aggressive Posture as he wants
to remove the French force guarding the otherwise open Flavigny
hex. He opts not to fire with the artillery unit, as he wishes to move
it, and he also balks at firing with the 10/Stulp/III infantry unit as
he knows it will likely be ineffective and there is a risk of ammo
loss. He then only issues Fire Combat with the 9/Stulp/III unit at
the French units in hex #2324. The unit has an SP of “8”, which
is halved to “4” due to the Extended Range shot (two hexes). The
column shifts are: “Å2” for Obscured LOS (firing over the town)
and “1Æ” because the target hex is a Stream hex. Wilhelm rolls
his dice on the “3” column of the FCRT and rolls a “6”, which is
an MT result. The white die reads “4” and this means the 2/Verge/
II infantry unit passes with no effect (its TCR is “6”) but the worn
out Corps/II artillery unit gets a “Shaken” marker (because its
TCR is only “2”).
Wilhelm then cautiously moves the Shaken 10/Stulp/III infantry to
hex #2426 (for the protection of the surrounding ridges and a nice
position from which to rally next turn) and then moves the Stulp/
III artillery one hex to #2127 (for a better LOS all around). He
finally moves 9/Stulp/III into Flavigny itself (hex #2224). By doing
so, he is running a gauntlet of enemy fire but he does so anyway.
He first gets Defensive Fire from the Verge/II artillery and its
Mitrailleuse unit (which must fire separately). The artillery has an
SP of “5”, which is increased to “7” for Canister Range. That puts
the shot on the “6-7” column, which is then shifted “Å3” because
28 At Any Cost: Metz
the target is in a Town hex. Pierre rolls his dice on the “3” column Undaunted, Wilhelm nevertheless announces an Assault Combat
of the FCRT and rolls a “4”, which is an NE result and because against the French units in hex #2324 with the disrupted 9/Stulp/
he notices that the white die is also a “4”, he needs to also place a III unit. The Prussian unit attacks with “2” SP (printed SP less 2
“Low Ammo” marker on the artillery unit (note that this marker for being Disrupted) and the French defend with a total of “5” SP
will not affect the Mitrailleuse unit). The Mitrailleuse fires next (4 SP from the infantry plus only 1 SP from the artillery because
and starts on the “4” column, applying shift of “1Æ” because a it’s Shaken and artillery SP’s are halved in Assault Combat). So
Mitrailleuse is firing and the same “Å3” because the target is in a the combat starts on the “–3” column of the ACRT and applicable
Town hex. That puts the shot on the “2” column and a colored die column shifts are: “1Æ” for Prussian infantry attacking, “Å1” be-
roll of “5” is another NE result. The adjacent Frossard II Corps cause the French have a better TCR than the Prussians (a TCR of
HQ unit cannot issue fire and thus has no contribution to make. “6” as compared to a modified TCR of “4”) and “Å2” for attacking
However, if the Prussians are not driven off by the next Defensive from a Stream hex. That puts the combat on the “–5” column and
Fire issued, the HQ will be considered to be Overrun. Wilhelm reluctantly rolls one die. He gets a “9” result, which is
an A1/D1. Wilhelm is willing to risk it all to hold Flavigny so he
elects to take the Loss Point as a Casualty Hit and does not choose
to retreat! This will force the French to also take one Loss Point
(because the Retreat option was not chosen when applying the Loss
Point). By applying a Casualty Hit while Battleworn means that the
Prussian unit must take a Break Test immediately. Wilhelm rolls the
die and miraculously scores a “2”, which is a Normal Pass result.
The unit passes the test but because it is Disrupted, it must retreat
one hex and withdraws back to hex #2225. However, because the
Prussian infantry did not elect to Retreat originally, the French must
now apply one Loss Point as well. Because he wants to hold this
position near Flavigny, he elects to take a Morale Hit and places
a “Shaken” marker on the 2/Verge/II infantry unit (because it has
a larger printed SP than the artillery unit). It was a brutal fight but
the French have held the position. The last thing the players have to
do is place a “Prussian Control” marker in Flavigny, as they were
the last to control the town.
The 2/Verge/II infantry unit and Corps/II artillery unit in #2324
are up next to try and vanquish the Prussian infantry from Flavi-
gny. The infantry unit has “4” SP and gets “1Æ” for being French
infantry and “Å3” for firing into a Town. Pierre decides to gam-
ble and whips down his held Battlefield Conditions Event chit,
which applies another “2Æ” column shift to the shot. That’s still
only the “4” column but this time Pierre rolls a “0” on the red die
(MT +3) and a “9” on the white die! That’s a net Morale Test roll
of “12” compared to the “8” TCR of the Prussians and they get a
“Disrupted” marker. The artillery now fires with an SP of “3” (a
printed SP of “3” less 1 for Shaken and plus 1 for Canister Range).
This is moved “Å3” again for the Town, which puts the fire on the
“C” column. This time Pierre rolls a remarkable “0” on the red die
(an MT result) and an “9” on the white die! This is compared to
the modified TCR of “6” for the Prussians (as they are Disrupted)
and that causes another Morale Hit, flipping the Prussians over to
their Battleworn side! Some brilliant firing from the French units
but the Prussians are not dislodged. Also, because the Prussian Pierre has to start planning a counter-attack to take the town back,
unit finished its movement adjacent to a French HQ, the II Corps but his forces are in really bad shape. What will happen next turn?
HQ is given an “HQ Overrun” marker and moved to the nearest
subordinate unit. Pierre moves the HQ back to hex #2222 and joins
the 1/Verge/II infantry unit already located there.

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